MECHANICAL oral hygiene procedures to remove dental plaque, including tooth brushing and flossing unequivocally enhance periodontal health. Gingivitis, although nearly universal among children and adults, is reversible. Periodontitis, a more serious condition, can lead to irreversible and progressive loss of bone and soft tissue that support teeth. The progressive form is commonly called “gum disease” and is the major cause of tooth loss globally.
In addition to removing bacterial plaque by tooth brushing and flossing, other interdental aids and methods of subgingival irrigation and professional scaling and polishing are helpful in the prevention and control of periodontal diseases. Chemotherapeutic agents such as chlorhexidine also have been shown to be beneficial. Effective and efficient use of available methods to prevent and control periodontal diseases depends on commercial availability, provider encouragement, and individual psychosocial and family lifestyle factors.
It has been proven scientifically that an unhygienic mouth can also enhance very deleterious consequences. For example, the use of tobacco products in any form is a major risk factor for cancers of the mouth and throat. Depending on the amount and type of tobacco used, there is a fourfold to fifteenfold increase in the risk of developing these types of cancers. The most common sites are tongue, lip, the floor of the mouth, soft palate, tonsils, salivary glands, and back of the throat.
In the United States, more than 90 per cent of all oral and pharyngeal cancers occur in individuals over age 45. Like many other cancers, risk increases with age. Cigarette smokers who smoke more than one pack a day are 1.5 times are more likely than light smokers to develop oral cancers. Although men are more likely than women to have oral cancer, there is concern that oral cancer in women will rise because of their increased use of tobacco products. In addition, the increase in smokeless tobacco use has been associated with an increase in oral cancers in younger populations.
Alcohol consumption also is associated with oral and mouth cancers. Because heavy smokers frequently also drink alcoholic beverages, separating the effects of the two risk factors is difficult. The risk for oral and throat cancers appears to be higher among those who both smoke and drink alcohol. Never starting is the best approach to preventing oral and mouth cancers. For those who have used or continue to use tobacco, there is a need for early detection of cancerous lesions as early detection is more likely to lead to successful treatment.
While oral cancer generally has a high mortality rate, injury to the mouth and oral structures should also be taken seriously. This can be prevented by taking individual and collective steps to make school, playground, and home environments safe. For example, using mouth protectors during contact sports and wearing a helmet while riding bicycles and motorcycles provide protection against head and mouth injuries, which frequently result in loss of teeth and broken jaws.
Appropriate use of seatbelts and child restraints in cars also reduce injuries to the head and mouth. Spousal and/or child abuse that can result in traumatic mouth and face injuries requires preventative interventions both at the interpersonal and societal levels.
