Knowing  the importance of oral health and oral hygiene 

Your overall health and well-being depend heavily on your oral health. 

Poor oral hygiene has been associated with heart disease, and diabetes as well as tooth cavities and gum disease.

It’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy and structure of the mouth cavity if you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Without having seen a healthy oral cavity, it will be challenging to understand the diseased stage.

The commitment to keeping your teeth and gums healthy is supposed to be for a  lifetime. 

The earlier you develop good oral hygiene practices, like brushing, flossing, and reducing your sugar intake, the easier it will be to stay healthy in the long run and prevent expensive dental surgeries.

Let us take a look at the human oral cavity:

The mouth: This hole in the lower portion of the human face is utilized for communication, sound production, and food intake. 

The tongue and teeth are located inside the mouth. Two lips are located outside the mouth, and cheeks are located on either side. 

The lips: The lips define the mouth’s aperture and are used to hold food when speaking and to make words. 

Additionally, they help create expressions on the face like whistling, yawning, frowning, and smiling 

The tongue: The tongue contains taste buds that are responsible for the sense of taste.

The teeth: They are utilized for biting and chewing and can be found on both the upper and lower jaw bones. 

They also help to shape the mouth. 

Other components of the human oral cavity include:

• The cheek 
• The palate to 
• The floor of the mouth 
• The gum 
• The salivary glands.

Symptoms of oral problems

Do not choose to only see your dentist when you develop symptoms. 

Usually, if you visit the dentist often, at least twice a year, they can detect an issue before you can notice any symptoms.

You should seek an  appointment with your dentist immediately  if you see any of the following warning signs of dental health problems:

• Mouth ulcers, sores, or uncomfortable spots that don’t go away after a week or two
• Gums that bleed or swell after flossing or brushing

• Persistent foul breath 
• sudden sensitivity to hot and/or  cold meals or  beverages
• pain or toothache
• loose teeth
• receding gums
• pain with chewing or biting
• swelling of the face and cheek
• clicking of the jaw
• cracked or broken teeth
• frequent dry mouth

You should get emergency medical help if any of these symptoms are accompanied by severe facial or neck swelling, a high temperature, or both. 

Types of oral diseases

It’s not a new thing that so many things can go wrong with time. 

Especially if you don’t take good care of your oral health since we use our teeth and jaws for so many different activities. 

The majority of oral health issues can be avoided with good oral health.

Here are some oral disease:

• Cavities 
• Gum disease (gingivitis)
• Periodontitis 
• Cracked or broken teeth 
• Sensitive teeth 
• Oral cancer

Treating oral problems 

1. Cleanings 
2. Fluoride treatments
3. Antibiotics
4. Fillings, crowns, and sealants 
5. Root canal
6. Probiotics 
7. Changing daily habits

Causes of  oral diseases

Several types of bacteria, viruses, and fungus are found in your mouth. 

Some of them there because they are a regular part of your mouth’s flora. In moderation, they are typically safe. 

However, a diet rich in sugar supports an environment where bacteria that produce acid can grow and multiply. 

Cavities occur by this acid’s dissolution of tooth the  enamel.

Plaque is a thick mash where bacteria that are close to your gumline flourish. 

If plaque isn’t continuously being removed by by brushing and flossing, it builds up, becomes strong and migrates along the length of your tooth. 

Your tooth gum may become inflamed which results to gingivitis.

Your gums will start to pull away from your teeth as the inflammation in your body worsens. 

This more severe stage of gum disease can be called Periodontitis.

Risk factors that contribute to gingivitis and periodontitis includes:

• Smoking
• Poor brushing habits
• Frequent snacking on sugary foods and drinks
• Diabetes
• The use of medications that reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth
• Family history, or genetics
• Certain infections, such as HIV or AIDS
• Hormonal changes in women
• Acid reflux, or heartburn
• Frequent vomiting, due to the acid

Halitosis 

This ailment, which is often referred to as bad breath, is characterized by an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth that is accentuated by speaking or breathing. 

The fact that this offensive odor may have originated in the oral cavity itself causes concern for many people..

Diagnosing dental and oral diseases

During a dental exam, the majority of dental and oral issues can be identified. 

Your dentist will carefully examine your oral cavity during an oral diagnosis to check for abnormalities in your:

• teeth
• mouth
• throat
• tongue
• cheeks
• jaw
• neck

To help with a diagnosis, your dentist may use various tools or devices to tap or scrape at your teeth.

Your gum pockets can be measured using a device known as a probe. 

Your dentist can use this little ruler to determine whether you have gum disease or gum recession. 

The distance between the teeth’s pockets in a healthy mouth typically ranges from 1 to 3 millimeters (mm). 

Any number greater than that can indicate you have gum disease.

Practice of good oral hygiene 

Regular preventive care, such as good brushing and flossing, can help halt issues before they arise. 

Additionally, they are significantly less expensive, unpleasant, and concerning than addressing problems that have been permitted to worsen..

These practices includes:

• Daily tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste 
• Limit free sugar intake 
• Reducing alcohol consumption 
• Stopping the use of all forms of tobacco  
• Flossing your teeth at least once a day
• Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
• Drinking fluoridated water
• Seeking professional dental care

Conclusion 

One of the most crucial things someone can do for their teeth and gums is to maintain good oral hygiene. 

In addition to helping a person feel and look good, healthy teeth also allow that person to eat and communicate clearly. 

The total welfare of a person depends on their oral health.

References 

- https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health#symptoms