World Oral Health Day 2024: Why you shouldn’t ignore brushing, flossing teeth, massaging gums

Have you ignored that piece of food stuck in your teeth since yesterday assuming it may go on its own? It is time to act on it. As much as oral health is important, many of us take it for granted. While brushing our teeth is usually assumed to be the main task, even that is more often than not done properly leading to a variety of issues. While this is only one of the aspects of oral health, doctors say not maintaining hygiene can have severe repercussions in the long run leading to various diseases and sicknesses.

Every year, World Oral Health Day has been observed on March 20 since 2013, to raise awareness about the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene in our daily lives. The theme from 2024 - 2026 is ‘A Happy Mouth is a Happy Body', to emphasise on the need for good oral health to ensure a healthy body. It serves as an annual reminder for people to focus on their oral health to ensure a healthy lifestyle that goes beyond the teeth and gums.

Keeping this in mind, mid-day.com spoke to Mumbai experts Dr. Rajesh Koppikar, consultant, dental surgery, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai and Dr Prathamesh Pai, director and head and neck surgical oncology specialist at PAH Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India, to understand the importance of basic oral hygiene. They not only stress on the effects of bad oral hygiene but also remind how ignoring your teeth could lead to worse if you don't follow basic tips.

What encompasses oral health and hygiene in daily life?
Koppikar: Everyday routine for oral health includes brushing teeth twice daily, with vertical brushing technique, using soft toothbrush and toothpaste containing Arginine and fluoride to clean the accessible surfaces, interdental floss to clean the proximal surfaces of teeth. Rinsing the mouth with water should be part of the routine.

Pai: Maintaining dental health can be greatly aided by routinely flossing, massaging the gums, and brushing twice a day. Oral health is connected to the rest of the body. Frequent dental check-ups are essential for spotting the warning signals during routine exams and for prompting action to stop any health risks.

What is the easiest way to maintain oral hygiene?
Koppikar: Using a soft toothbrush and Arginine and fluoride containing toothpaste and water flosser is an easy way to maintain oral hygiene and an annual visit to the dentist.

Pai: Rinsing your mouth after every meal is the easiest way to keep your teeth clean. Frequent dental check-ups are essential for spotting the warning signals during routine exams and for prompting action to stop any health risks. A person can focus on their diet by eating a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Tooth decay and erosion can be avoided by avoiding sugar filled and acidic foods and drinks.

SEE PHOTOS: World Oral Health Day 2024: Follow these steps to ensure perfect oral hygiene

Why is it important to maintain oral hygiene beyond social interactions?
Koppikar: Digestion of food begins in the oral cavity during the process of mastication. The food is broken down into smaller pieces, which then combine with salivary enzymes to break carbohydrates into sugars. Hence it is important to have good teeth for better digestion.

Pai: It is important to maintain good oral health beyond social interactions as good oral health can help in digestion of food, chewing of food and at times a poor oral health can lead to various systemic health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, and complications with diabetes.

Do you believe oral hygiene is taken for granted by most people?
Koppikar: Oral hygiene is taken for granted by most of the people till they get a toothache, as they do not consider teeth as a living part of the body.

Pai: People who disregard their oral health may unintentionally foster an environment that is favourable to the growth of malignant cells. Beyond simply the mouth, poor dental health can have a significant influence on general health, life satisfaction, and even longevity. To effectively prevent and treat oral health disorders, it is imperative to place a high priority on oral cleanliness and seek immediate dental care.

Who should focus more on oral health?
Koppikar: Patients with head and neck radiation, Bisphosphonate therapy, using dental appliances, compromised manual dexterity, dry mouth, chemotherapy, expectant mothers, exposed root surfaces, and high fermentable carbohydrate diet like colas should be extra vigilant about their oral health.

Pai: Everyone should put their dental health first, regardless of age or situation. It is essential to instil proper dental hygiene habits in children early on in order to prevent gum disease, cavities, and other oral health problems. It is important for expectant mothers to practise proper oral hygiene and schedule routine dental exams. Smoking increases the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer. Smokers should prioritise oral hygiene and consider quitting smoking to improve their oral health.

What are the causes of bad oral health?
Koppikar: The causes of bad oral health include incorrect brushing techniques, not using a brush for oral hygiene, high sugar diet and smoking, diabetes, inability to open mouth due to surgery or trauma, dry mouth, acid reflux or GERD, not using fluoride toothpaste, bruxism, not using interproximal aids, and habits like mouth breathing.

Pai: Bad dental hygiene is a source of infection which can cause bad breath and even joint pains. Tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, can cause gum disease and oral cancer. Avoiding these products can improve your oral health.

What are the effects of bad oral health?
Koppikar: The effects of oral health include plaque buildup due to bad oral hygiene causing tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontitis, halitosis (bad breath), decreasing ability to masticate, speak, and socialise.

Pai: It is becoming more and more clear that poor dental hygiene increases the risk of cancer.

List some steps to ensure perfect oral health
Koppikar: People can ensure the following steps:
1. Brushing twice a day with correct technique using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste containing Arginine and fluoride.
2. Interdental aids like Floss and Water flosser and Proxabrush to clean in between teeth.
3. Use of fluoride mouthwash for patients undergoing radiation of head and neck.
4. Biannual application of Topical fluoride in children below 13 years of age.
5. Keeping your mouth hydrated.
6. Avoid habits like smoking and mouth breathing.
7. Keeping systemic diseases like diabetes under control.

Pai: By acknowledging the silent signals our teeth may be sending us, we can take charge of our well-being. Regular dental check-ups, coupled with the adoption of good oral hygiene practices, serve as crucial steps in the early detection and prevention of diseases as severe as mouth cancer.

What are some of the misconceptions about oral health?
Koppikar: The common myths about oral health are:
1. Dental health does not affect oral health.
2. No toothache means good dental health.
3. Milk teeth are not important as they will fall anyway.
4. Bleeding gums is common and will go away on its own.
5. Dental fillings last for a lifetime.

Pai: Getting regular dental exams is important even if you don't feel any pain. Early detection of conditions including cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer by dentists enables prompt intervention and prevention. Abnormal growth of cells in the mouth can be prevented with simple lifestyle modifications.

What diseases can people suffer from due to bad oral health?
Koppikar: People can suffer from tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth loss, oral cancers (smoking), increase in blood sugar levels, halitosis, decrease in mastication and aesthetic issues.

Pai: Try to keep diabetes under control if you have it, as this will decrease risk for other complications, including gum diseases. Some of the common diseases, such as periodontal disease, dental caries, loss of dental enamel and brittle teeth, white and red patches, chronic inflammation can lead to dysplasia and later cancer.