Oral disease prevention

March 20, 2025 - World Oral Health Day. The main goal of this day is to draw public attention to oral health issues, adherence to hygiene rules, and prevention of dental diseases.

To avoid suffering from oral diseases, it is necessary to take preventive measures from early childhood. 1.The most common dental problem of any age is caries – a disease that destroys tooth tissues. It is associated with the formation of a nutrient medium on tooth surfaces, favorable for bacterial reproduction. During their activity, acid is released. As a result, the outer, hardest layer of the tooth – tooth enamel – is destroyed first, and then the inner tissues – dentin. A carious cavity forms in the tooth. When the destructive process reaches the tooth pulp, where the tooth nerve and blood vessels are located, caries progresses to pulpitis. At this stage, sharp, usually spontaneous, toothache is noted. Untreated pulpitis often progresses to periodontitis – inflammation of the tissues around the tooth root. Swelling and inflammation can spread to the gum and cheek area – forming what is known as flux. The tooth destruction process is irreversible; caries cannot heal on its own. In such cases, qualified dental assistance is required! If toothache is accompanied by signs of gum inflammation (swollen gums, cheek, throbbing pain), urgent medical attention is necessary – the spread of infection in the body can lead to severe complications, including blood poisoning. Do not apply heat to the inflamed area, as the purulent process can spread to nearby tissues.

Prevention of dental diseases includes:

1. Oral hygiene – maximum reduction of soft microbial plaque and tartar. This is achieved by regular tooth brushing using additional hygiene products (dental floss, interdental brushes, mouthwashes, denture brushes, etc.).

Basic rules for brushing teeth: daily brushing at least twice a day (after breakfast and before bed) for 2-3 minutes + use of additional means (dental floss, mouthwash, etc.); brush with vertical "sweeping" motions, placing the toothbrush horizontally on the gum at a 45-degree angle, finishing with circular motions on the buccal and labial surfaces with closed jaws, covering teeth and gums; choose a toothbrush individually based on stiffness; for children under 6 years of age, tooth brushing should be performed by parents.

1. The most effective method in reducing the prevalence of caries is the use of fluorides. The use of fluoride-containing toothpastes is practical.
2. To prevent dental diseases, it is important to maintain a complete set of food products and a moderate frequency of carbohydrate intake. With 3-4 meals a day, it is necessary to include products from the main groups in the diet: bread, dairy, meat, and fruits and vegetables. Consuming carbohydrates more than five times a day is a risk factor for caries.
3. Visit a dentist twice a year.

2.Trauma to the inner surface of the cheeks, the mucous membrane of the lips and tongue is one of the common causes of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. Damaged tissues can be caused by a chipped tooth edge or a sharp filling, a poorly fitted prosthesis, or bad habits of the patient, such as biting the lips and the mucous membrane of the cheeks.

To prevent damage or eliminate its cause, visit your dentist regularly. During an individual appointment, the doctor will take timely measures:

• remove a decayed tooth,
• treat caries that has not progressed to an advanced stage,
• polish sharp edges of fillings or crowns,
• install safe implants,
• perform a complete oral sanitation before radiation therapy.

Rational prosthetics play an important role in preventing mechanical damage. Do not skimp on the procedure, do not skimp on your health.

3.Cancers and precancerous conditions of the oral cavity. To prevent precancerous conditions of the oral mucosa, the red border of the lips and tongue, it is primarily necessary to eliminate provoking factors. In addition to trauma, these include:

• hazards related to professional activities,
• excessive ultraviolet radiation,

• deficiency of micro- and macroelements,
• hormonal imbalances.

It is important to give up smoking, alcohol, and excessively hot food that irritates the mucous membrane. The risks of developing diseases increase if a person has dentures and rarely undergoes dental check-ups.

To prevent cancer and precancerous conditions, doctors also recommend:

• consuming foods rich in vitamins A, B, C,
• undergoing professional oral hygiene procedures,
• timely treatment of caries,
• avoiding prolonged sun exposure, using protective clothing, creams, and ointments.

Thus, to improve dental health at the population level, efforts from both specialists and society as a whole are necessary. Public opinion should be formed that taking care of oral health is as essential as taking care of one's appearance.

State Institution "Rassonsky RCGE", March 2025