Dentistry cover and dental Information about Dentist around the world Related Articles
On Dentistry Day, El Cuco Digital spoke with dentist Luis Amarilla about the main diseases that can affect our mouths and how to prevent them.
On October 3, Dentistry Day is commemorated in Latin America. This date has its origins in 1917, when a group of dentists from different Latin American countries met in Santiago, Chile to share and debate some aspects of their profession. Among the objectives of this Congress was the establishment of the Dental Federation of Latin America (THE BLOOD), an organization that would enable them to monitor and share, from time to time, scientific advances, challenges and new cases that may appear in the future. FOLA has an ongoing mandate to collaborate with participating governments in developing programs that facilitate addressing dental problems.
On this date, The digital cuckoo spoke to dentist Luis Amarilla from Opravy Salud – La Consulta dental center – to talk about diseases that affect our oral health such as cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis, what are their changes and how to prevent them.
What is meant by oral health?
Oral health is a very important part of overall health: having a healthy mouth, teeth and gums are key aspects of a healthy life.
Why is good oral health essential to the primary development of humans?
Oral health includes the ability to bite, chew, smile, speak, communicate and convey emotions through facial expressions with confidence, without pain, discomfort or craniofacial disease. Any problem affecting oral health has an impact on a person’s psychosocial well-being. To have good oral health, it is very important to follow hygienic habits from a young age and to have regular dental visits according to each stage of life.
What diseases and concerns related to teeth and gums can we avoid by taking care of oral health? What are the main recommendations you can give us to prevent damage and ensure total oral hygiene?
The mouth reflects the general state of health of a person and can account for nutritional deficiencies or symptoms of other health problems (eating disorders, malnutrition, consumption of substances that affect general and oral health).
There is a close link between oral health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Oral diseases are a risk factor for developing NCDs such as diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases and some cancers.
Additionally, a person’s general health conditions can increase the risk of oral health problems.
Diseases of the mouth
- Caries
It is a multifactorial disease, that is, it is produced by the combination of several factors: bacterial plaque, which adheres to the surface of the tooth, carbohydrates in the food we eat and the length of time that bacteria form plaque have bacterial plaque to use carbohydrates and produce acids that begin to destroy tooth enamel.
Proper dental hygiene prevents the formation of cavities.
- gingivitis
It is inflammation of the gums that causes bleeding, redness, pain and inflammation.
It is generally due to the presence of bacterial plaque resulting from poor dental hygiene. It is important to practice good hygiene to avoid this problem. If gingivitis is not treated it can cause periodontitis.
- Periodontitis
It is a chronic inflammatory disease. It affects the gums and the alveolar bone, which is the jawbone that supports the teeth.
When left untreated, teeth and gums begin to move and may end up being lost.
Periodontitis can be prevented. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist reduce your chances of developing it.
- Oral cancer
It is a very invasive disease, it can affect the lips, tongue, inner cheeks, palate, floor of the mouth, salivary glands and jaws.
Smoking and alcohol consumption are two of the main causes of oral cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is transmitted through sexual contact, is also linked to oral cancer.
