Oral Health Focus
[from who Oral health Fact
sheet N°318 April 2012]
Below is a fact sheet retracted from the World Health Organisation Oral Health web page.
Key facts
- Worldwide, 60–90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities.
- Dental cavities can be prevented by maintaining a constant low level of fluoride in the oral cavity.
- Severe periodontal (gum) disease, which may result in tooth loss, is found in 15–20% of middle-aged (35-44 years) adults.
- Globally, about 30% of people aged 65–74 have no natural teeth.
- Oral disease in children and adults is higher among poor and disadvantaged population groups.
- Risk factors for oral diseases include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use and poor oral hygiene, and social determinants.
Definition
Oral health is essential to general
health and quality of life. It is a state of being free from mouth and facial
pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal (gum)
disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit
an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial
wellbeing.
Oral diseases and conditions
The most common oral diseases are
dental cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer, oral infectious
diseases, trauma from injuries, and hereditary lesions.
Dental
cavities
Worldwide, 60–90% of school children
and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities, often leading to pain and
discomfort.
Periodontal
disease
Severe periodontal (gum) disease,
which may result in tooth loss, is found in 15–20% of middle-aged (35-44 years)
adults.
Tooth
loss
Dental cavities and periodontal
disease are major causes of tooth loss. Complete loss of natural teeth is
widespread and particularly affects older people. Globally, about 30% of people
aged 65–74 have no natural teeth.
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Oral
cancer
The incidence of oral cancer ranges
from one to 10 cases per 100 000 people in most countries. The prevalence of
oral cancer is relatively higher in men, in older people, and among people of
low education and low income. Tobacco and alcohol are major causal factors.
Fungal,
bacterial or viral infections in HIV
Almost half (40–50%) of people who
are HIV-positive have oral fungal, bacterial or viral infections. These often
occur early in the course of HIV infection.
Oro-dental
trauma
Across the world, 16-40% of children
in the age range 6 to12 years old are affected by dental trauma due to unsafe
playgrounds, unsafe schools, road accidents, or violence.
Noma
Noma is a gangrenous lesion that
affects young children living in extreme poverty primarily in Africa and Asia.
Lesions are severe gingival disease followed by necrosis (premature death of
cells in living tissue) of lips and chin. Many children affected by noma suffer
from other infections such as measles and HIV. Without any treatment, about 90%
of these children die.
Cleft
lip and palate
Birth defects such as cleft lip and
palate occur in about one per 500–700 of all births. This rate varies
substantially across different ethnic groups and geographical areas.
Common
causes
Risk factors for oral diseases
include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use and harmful alcohol use. These are also
risk factors for the four leading chronic diseases – cardiovascular diseases,
cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – and oral diseases are often
linked to chronic disease. Poor oral hygiene is also a risk factor for oral
disease.
The prevalence of oral disease
varies by geographical region, and availability and accessibility of oral
health services. Social determinants in oral health are also very strong. The
prevalence of oral diseases is increasing in low- and middle-income countries,
and in all countries, the oral disease burden is significantly higher among
poor and disadvantaged population groups.
Prevention
and treatment
The burden of oral diseases and
other chronic diseases can be decreased simultaneously by addressing common
risk factors. These include:
- decreasing sugar intake and maintaining a well-balanced nutritional intake to prevent tooth decay and premature tooth loss;
- consuming fruit and vegetables that can protect against oral cancer;
- stopping tobacco use and decreasing alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of oral cancers, periodontal disease and tooth loss;
- ensuring proper oral hygiene;
- using protective sports and motor vehicle equipment to reduce the risk of facial injuries; and
- safe physical environments.
Dental cavities can be prevented by
maintaining a constant low level of fluoride in the oral cavity. Fluoride can
be obtained from fluoridated drinking water, salt, milk and toothpaste, as well
as from professionally-applied fluoride or mouth rinse. Long-term exposure to
an optimal level of fluoride results in fewer dental cavities in both children
and adults.
Most oral diseases and conditions
require professional dental care, however, due to limited availability or
inaccessibility, the use of oral health services is markedly low among older
people, people living in rural areas, and people with low income and education.
Oral health care coverage is low in low- and middle- income countries.
Traditional curative dental care is
a significant economic burden for many high-income countries, where 5–10% of
public health expenditure relates to oral health. In low- and middle-income
countries, public oral health programmes are rare. The high cost of dental
treatment can be avoided by effective prevention and health promotion measures.
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