Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “2022 – Benefits of Improving Your Oral Hygiene Health.” The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

^[1]Significant advances in scientific knowledge and the commercialization of oral health products have contributed to the improvements in the oral health of millions of people across the world over the past four decades. This period has seen the introduction of more advanced toothpastes with optimal levels of fluoride to prevent caries, as well new oral care products that address a range of people’s needs, including prevention of early periodontal disease (gingivitis) and reduction in tooth sensitivity. GSK Consumer Healthcare is at the forefront of innovation in oral care and in fostering oral health education with the aim of helping billions of people around the world to achieve better oral health.

Herein, we review the remarkable progress that the dental industry has made in preventing and treating oral conditions and the continuing burden of these diseases worldwide. We also discuss the role that industry can continue to play in positively influencing oral health outcomes, both through scientific research as well as partnerships with patients, dental professionals, academia and non-governmental organizations.

The Burden Of Oral Disease

The act of twice daily toothbrushing has increased from around 30–62% of people (varying by country) in the mid-1990s to around 50–72% of people in 2010. However, despite oral diseases being considered largely preventable through such a simple self-care intervention, their incidence continues to remain stubbornly high. Caries and periodontal disease are amongst the most prevalent non-communicable diseases globally.

Lifestyle choices (including a worrying growing consumer trend to choose non-fluoride toothpastes), the continuing shift in diets towards foods that are high in refined sugar (or contain hidden complex sugars), repeated snacking and a trend towards more acidic foods and drinks that can dissolve the mineral structure of enamel are challenging oral health worldwide.

The Impact Of Poor Oral Health On The Individual

The World Dental Federation (FDI), an organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, that represents dental professionals around the world, defines oral health as “multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex [head, face, and oral cavity]”.

This 2016 definition encapsulates a change from oral health being the absence of disease to one that includes physical, mental and social wellbeing – factors important in people’s day-to-day life. Oral health is a significant component of quality of life and is an important indication for people’s health status. The impact of oral diseases on quality of life can include physical, social and psychological factors such as pain, discomfort, functional limitations, social life, eating, exercising, insomnia, irritability and low self-esteem.

^[2]Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. It encompasses a range of diseases and conditions that include dental caries, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oro-dental trauma, noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancers of the lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers worldwide, with nearly 180 000 deaths each year.

Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with the leading noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes). These risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets high in free sugars, all of which are increasing at the global level. There is a proven relationship between oral and general health. It is reported, for example, that diabetes is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis. Moreover, there is a causal link between high consumption of sugars and diabetes, obesity and dental caries.

Conclusion:

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Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00517-5 ↑

2. https://www.who.int/health-topics/oral-health#tab=tab_1 ↑