Overview on Dental and Oral Health
                     OVERVIEW ON DENTAL AND 
ORAL HEALTH
INTRODUCTION
Dental and oral health is an essential part of your 
overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene can 
lead to dental cavities and gum disease, and has also 
been linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
DENTAL CARE
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a lifelong 
commitment. The earlier you learn proper oral hygiene 
habits such as brushing, flossing, and limiting your 
sugar intake the easier it’ll be to avoid costly dental 
procedures and long-term health issues.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
FACTS ABOUT DENTAL AND ORAL 
HEALTH
According to the World Health Organization:
• between 60 and 90 percent of school children have 
at least one dental cavity
• nearly 100 percent of adults have at least one 
dental cavity
• between 15 and 20 percent of adults ages 35 to 44 
have severe gum disease
• about 30 percent of people around the world ages 
65 to 74 don’t have any natural teeth left
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
 STEPS TO KEEP YOUR TEETH 
HEALTHY
• brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at 
least twice a day
• flossing your teeth at least once a day
• decreasing your intake of sugar
• eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
• avoiding tobacco products
• drinking fluoridated water
• seeking professional dental care
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
SYMPTOMS OF DENTAL AND ORAL 
PROBLEMS
• ulcers, sores, or tender areas in the mouth that 
won’t heal after a week or two
• bleeding or swollen gums after brushing or flossing
• chronic bad breath
• sudden sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures or 
beverages
• pain or toothache
• loose teeth
• receding gums
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
CAUSES OF DENTAL AND ORAL 
DISEASES
• Your oral cavity collects all sorts of bacteria, 
viruses, and fungi. Some of them belong there, 
making up the normal flora of your mouth. 
• They’re generally harmless in small quantities. But 
a diet high in sugar creates conditions in which 
acid-producing bacteria can flourish. 
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
DIAGNOSING DENTAL AND ORAL 
DISEASES
Most dental and oral problems can be diagnosed during 
a dental exam. During an exam, your dentist will closely 
inspect your:
• teeth
• mouth
• throat
• tongue
• cheeks
• jaw
• neck
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
TYPES OF DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES
CAVITIES
• These are areas of the tooth that have been 
permanently damaged and may even have holes in 
them. 
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
GINGIVITIS
• Bacteria near your gumline thrive in a sticky matrix 
called plaque. Plaque accumulates, hardens, and 
migrates down the length of your tooth if it isn’t 
removed regularly by brushing and flossing. 
• This can inflame your gums and cause the condition 
known as gingivitis.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
PERIODONTITIS
• Increased inflammation causes your gums to begin 
to pull away from your teeth. 
• This process creates pockets in which pus may 
eventually collect. This more advanced stage of 
gum disease is called periodontitis.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
CRACKED OR BROKEN TEETH
• A tooth can crack or break from an injury to the 
mouth, chewing hard foods, or grinding the teeth 
at night. 
• A cracked tooth can be very painful. You should 
visit your dentist right away if you’ve cracked or 
broken a tooth.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com
SENSITIVE TEETH
• A tooth can crack or break from an injury to the 
mouth, chewing hard foods, or grinding the teeth 
at night. 
• A cracked tooth can be very painful. You should 
visit your dentist right away if you’ve cracked or 
broken a tooth.
SOURCE: www.healthline.com