Oral diseases, while primarily preventable, pose a major health burden for many countries and affect people and cause distress in daily lives and cause pain, and even lead to death.

It is gauged that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people around the world. (WHO) The preponderance of oral diseases continues to increase globally with growing urbanization and changes in living habits and standards.

This is primarily due to insufficient exposure to fluoride, basic dental hygiene products like toothpaste, availability, and affordability of food with high sugar content and poor access to oral health care services, and the gravity of dental hygiene.

The enticing and availability of foods and beverages high in sugar, as well as tobacco and alcohol, have led to the growing consumption of products that contribute to oral health conditions.

1Dental caries

Dental caries is a common tooth illness among most people. It results when plaque forms on the exterior of a tooth and converts the free sugars, artificial sugars, and naturally present sugars in honey syrups, and fruit juices.

These sugars encompassed in foods and drinks are transformed into acids that eradicate the tooth with time. A continued high intake of sugars, inadequate exposure to fluoride, and a lack of reduction of plaque by toothbrushing can lead to caries, pain, and sometimes tooth loss and infection.

2Periodontal disease

Periodontal disease involves the tissues that both encircle and support the teeth. The disease is characterized by bleeding or swollen gums, gingivitis, pain, and sometimes bad breath.

In its more severe form, the gum can come away from the tooth and supporting bone, causing teeth to become loose and sometimes fall out. Intense periodontal diseases are estimated to affect around 19% of the global adult population, representing more than 1 billion patients worldwide. The main risk facets for periodontal disease are impoverished oral hygiene and tobacco use.

3Tooth loss

Loss of speech comes after a lifelong history of oral disease, mainly advanced dental caries, and severe periodontal disease, but can also be due to trauma and other causes that were not seriously attended to. The estimated global average prevalence of total tooth loss is almost 7% among people aged 20 years or older.

For people aged 60 years or older, a much higher global prevalence of 23% has been estimated. Losing teeth can be psychologically traumatic, socially damaging, and functionally limiting. The role of tech is not merely for chewing and biting, it gives the shape of the face and is important when smiling.

4Oral cancer

Oral cancer comprises cancers of the lip, other parts of the mouth, and the oropharynx and combined ranks as the 13th most common cancer worldwide. Oral cancer is more common in men and older people, more deadly in men compared to women and it varies strongly by socio-economic because well-taken care of oral hygiene like the use of toothpaste and healthy foods may be highly dependent on economic and social factors. Drug and substance abuse like the use of tobacco and alcohol, are among the leading causes of oral cancer.

5Hyperdontia

It's rare, but some people have extra teeth, which is called hyperdontia. People who have it may also have another condition, such as a cleft lip or Gardner’s Syndrome which forms tumors that aren't cancer.

In 2022, the World Health Assembly adopted the global strategy on oral health with a vision of universal health coverage for oral health for all individuals and communities by 2030. A detailed action plan is under development to help countries translate the global strategy into practice. This includes a monitoring framework for tracking progress, with measurable targets to be achieved by 2030.

Daily tips to help keep a healthy oral routine

• Promoting a well-balanced diet low in free sugars and high in fruit and vegetables, and favoring water as the main drink is a step towards healthy and improved oral health.

• Stopping the use of all forms of tobacco or marijuana.

• Motivating the use of protective equipment when engaging in extreme sports like hiking or diving.

• It's important to take care of your mouth and teeth beginning from a young age to avoid problems later in life like gingivitis or bleeding gums.

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or another type of between-the-teeth cleaner

• Limit your sugar intake in any form and snack with caution.

• See your dentist or oral health professional regularly, they see what you cannot.

Most people are aware that brushing their teeth twice a day is one of the most crucial practices for removing plaque and bacteria and keeping teeth clean. However, brushing may only be effective if people use the correct technique.

People should brush using small circular motions, taking care to brush the front, back, and top of every tooth. This process takes between 2 and 3 minutes. People should avoirushingsh and spontaneous brushing movements. The aim is to ensure attention to every tooth and clean it as much as possible.

Fluorine is an important part of oral health and hygiene. Many experts believe that fluoride helps prevent cavities, and it is a common component in toothpaste and mouthwash. Flossing can remove plaque and bacteria from between the teeth, which a toothbrush is unable to reach. It can also help prevent bad breath by removing debris and food that has become trapped between the teeth.

Although there is a lack of long-term studies proving that flossing is beneficial, it's a safe choice to use for stronger and cleaner teeth. Experts recommend that people see a dentist every 6 months for a checkup. During a routine dental inspection, a hygienist will clean the teeth and remove plaque and stiffened tartare. Your dentist will check for visual signs of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health complications.