Oral Health Care and Its Impact on General Health

Every year on 7th April, the global community celebrates world health day to create public awareness about health issues and address them. But overall oral health is as important as general health. Without a good status of our oral health, the human body suffers from various health issues.

The oral cavity is the gateway to our body. Therefore, it needs to be healthy. It helps:

• The human body to function normally.
• Neutralizes toxins and harmful bacteria by salivary enzymes.
• 40% digestion takes place in the mouth by proper chewing and enzyme like amylases.
• Keeps our beauty and enables one to talk properly.
• To keep the heart, stomach, and intestines healthy.

However, various problems can arise in our body if the teeth and other surrounding structures are not normal. These are:

• Malnutrition from improper digestion which can further can anemia and weakness.
• Psychiatric issues due to inability to eat properly and enjoy food particularly in old age. It also occurs due to poor facial aesthetics from irregular teeth and inability to talk properly.
• Diseases of heart, stomach, and intestines leading to infective endocarditis, stomach ulcerations, diarrhea, etc.

So, it becomes important to take care of oral health to stay healthy. The various measures to be taken are:

• Brushing daily using a soft brush particularly before bedtime.
• Rinsing the mouth after consuming food and other drinks like carbonated beverages.
• Avoid excess use of refined foods and those which contain sugars.
• Restoration of decayed teeth with filling and dentures.
• Avoid breaking hard objects with teeth like walnuts.
• Dental checkup at the nearest healthcare center every 6 months.
• Prophylactic scaling every six months to avoid deposition of calculus.

Health is wealth and overall health means when all organs are functioning harmoniously to each other. Therefore, one should not ignore oral health if one wants to stay healthy.