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Oral Health. Best Practice Best Practices for Oral Health Screening in Ontario Schools Oral health screening in schools is mandated under the Ontario Public Health Standards Act. No results.

View More. American Dental Association. Thomas C, et al. Oral microbiota: A major player in the diagnosis of systemic diseases.

Diabetes and periodontal disease. Oral health topics: Toothbrushes. See also Calcium Dental floss vs. water flosser Dry mouth relief Sensitive teeth When to brush your teeth.

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Admissions Requirements. Degree Programs. Your dentist may recommend a sealant for your children as soon as they get their first molars, at around age six, and again when they get their second set of molars around age Sealants are easy to apply and completely painless.

You might need a root canal if tooth decay reaches all the way inside the tooth to the nerve. During a root canal, the nerve is removed and replaced with a filling made of a biocompatible material, usually a combination of a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and adhesive cement.

Probiotics are mostly known for their role in digestive health , but new research has shown that the healthy bacteria may be beneficial for your teeth and gums.

Probiotics have been shown to prevent plaque and treat bad breath. They also help to prevent oral cancers and decrease inflammation from gum disease. While large clinical trials are still needed to prove their effectiveness, results to date have been promising. You can take a probiotic supplement or eat foods high in beneficial bacteria , such as yogurt , kefir , and kimchi.

Other popular probiotic foods include sauerkraut , tempeh , and miso. Keeping your mouth healthy is a daily commitment. A dental hygienist can teach you how to properly take care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis. In addition to brushing and flossing, your daily routine can include mouthwash, oral rinses, and possibly other tools, such as a Waterpik water flosser.

Shop for a water flosser. Oral surgeries are usually performed to treat more serious cases of periodontal disease. Certain dental surgeries can also be done to replace or fix missing or broken teeth caused by an accident. During a flap surgery, a surgeon makes a small cut in the gum to lift up a section of the tissue.

They then remove tartar and bacteria from underneath the gums. The flap is then stitched back into place around your teeth. Bone grafting is needed when gum disease causes damage to the bone surrounding the root of your tooth. The dentist replaces the damaged bone with a graft, which can be made from your own bone, a synthetic bone, or a donated bone.

A soft tissue graft is used to treat receding gums. A dentist will remove a small piece of tissue from your mouth or use a donor tissue and attach it to the areas of your gums that are missing.

You may also need a tooth extraction if your wisdom teeth , or third molars, are impacted. One or more of the wisdom teeth will become trapped or impacted when it tries to emerge. A dentist will typically recommend that wisdom teeth be extracted if they cause pain, inflammation, or other problems.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth that are lost due to a disease or an accident. An implant is surgically placed into the jawbone.

After the implant is placed, your bones will grow around it. This is called osseointegration. Once this process is complete, your dentist will customize a new artificial tooth for you that matches your other teeth. This artificial tooth is known as a crown. The new crown is then attached to the implant.

A dental bridge is made of two abutment crowns on either side of the gap, which then hold the artificial teeth in between in place. Periodontal disease can eventually break down the bone that supports your teeth. This can lead to many complications. If left untreated, an infection from a tooth abscess can spread to other parts of your head or neck.

It can even lead to sepsis , a life-threatening blood infection. Good oral health boils down to good general health and common sense. The best ways to prevent oral health problems are to:.

Get more tips on preventing oral health problems. Good oral health is especially important to groups such as children, pregnant women, and older adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends that children start seeing a dentist by their first birthday. Children are highly susceptible to dental cavities and tooth decay, especially those who bottle feed.

Cavities may be caused by too much sugar left on the teeth after bottle feeding. To avoid baby bottle tooth decay , you should do the following:.

Baby bottle tooth decay is also known as early childhood caries ECC. Go here to find out more ways you can prevent ECC. According to the American Academy of Periodontology , men are less likely to take good care of their teeth and gums than women.

Compared to women, men are less likely to brush twice per day, floss regularly, and seek preventive dental care. Oral and throat cancer is more common in men.

A study showed that men with a history of periodontal disease are 14 percent more likely to develop other types of cancer than men with healthy gums.

Due to changing hormones at various stages of their lives, women are at risk for several oral health issues. When a woman first starts menstruating, she may experience mouth sores or swollen gums during her periods. During pregnancy, increased hormones can affect the amount of saliva produced by the mouth.

Frequent vomiting caused by morning sickness can result in tooth decay. During menopause , lower amounts of estrogen can increase your risk of gum disease.

Some women may also experience a condition called burning mouth syndrome BMS during menopause. Learn about the different dental issues that women face throughout their lives. This means that people with diabetes have a higher risk of having oral infections, gum disease, and periodontitis.

Explore the link between type 2 diabetes and oral health. Your oral health has an effect on more than just your teeth. Poor oral and dental health can contribute to issues with your self-esteem, speech, or nutrition. They can also affect your comfort and overall quality of life. Many dental and oral problems develop without any symptoms.

Seeing a dentist regularly for a checkup and exam is the best way to catch a problem before it gets worse. Ultimately, your long-term outcome depends on your own efforts.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. A dental chart, also called a periodontal chart, is where your dental healthcare professional records the condition of your teeth and gums.

Healthy gums are key to maintaining a healthy mouth. But what are the best ways to keep your gums healthy, besides brushing and flossing? Holistic dentistry is a form of dental medicine.

Public notifications. We are required to publish certain types of regulatory action about the oral health professionals we regulate. Practice resources. Our clinical and ethical standards for practice prioritize the safety of patients.

Learn more. News and announcements. BCCOHP Board meeting notice — Thursday, March 14, February 1, Most oral health conditions are preventable and can be treated early. Oral health can be maintained by establishing a good oral hygiene routine and by being aware of some common health and lifestyle risk factors :.

Some risk factors, such as aging, are unavoidable. You can reduce or eliminate risk factors by choosing healthier options and changing certain lifestyle habits.

Any changes you make to lower your risks is an important step towards maintaining a healthy smile, disease prevention , and improving your overall health and well-being.

Just like other diseases, prevention, early detection and treatment of oral diseases is important to stop any negative effects on the rest of your body. An unhealthy buildup in your mouth can make your gums prone to bleeding.

Unhealthy oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with gum disease may enter your bloodstream, which can increase your risk of other health problems. Oral disease can affect every aspect of your life, including personal relationships and self-confidence.

It can also disrupt your sleep and affect how or what you eat — all of which can impact your overall quality of life. Keeping your mouth healthy helps it function well. It is important to look after your oral health for your overall health and well-being. Establish and stick to a good oral hygiene routine for a healthy smile that will last you a lifetime.

It is worth your effort. Good oral hygiene helps prevent tooth decay and inflammation in your gums that can become serious. Follow these tips to keep your mouth and body healthy.

Brush your teeth for minutes, twice a day to help remove food and plaque. Brushing your teeth keeps your mouth clean and free of bacteria that leads to cavities and gum disease.

Floss at least once a day , or after snacking. Flossing gets to places your toothbrush cannot reach and removes bacteria that can cause bad breath. Reduce gum disease and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line.

Depending on what you eat, your tongue can hold food residue. Be sure to also give it a good brush or scrape to help keep your breath fresh. As part of your morning oral health routine, swish with an oral rinse also known as mouthwash or a mouth rinse once a day.

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Oral health includes your teeth and gums, both of which require regular care to avoid cavities, infections, and other issues. Taking care of your oral health can also benefit other parts of your body, including your heart. 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. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a lifelong commitment.

Dental cavities and gum disease are very common. According to the World Health Organization :. There are many steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy.

For example, dental and oral disease can be greatly reduced by:. Going to the dentist twice a year will usually allow them to catch a problem before you even notice any symptoms.

If you experience any of the following warning signs of dental health issues, you should make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible:. If any of these symptoms are accompanied by a high fever and facial or neck swelling, you should seek emergency medical treatment.

Learn more about the warning signs of oral health issues. Your oral cavity collects all sorts of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Some of them belong there, making up the normal flora of your mouth. But a diet high in sugar creates conditions in which acid-producing bacteria can flourish.

This acid dissolves tooth enamel and causes dental cavities. Bacteria near your gumline thrive in a sticky matrix called plaque. This can inflame your gums and cause the condition known as gingivitis. 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. Most dental and oral problems can be diagnosed during a dental exam.

During an exam, your dentist will closely inspect your:. Your dentist might tap or scrape at your teeth with various tools or instruments to assist with a diagnosis. A tool called a probe can be used to measure your gum pockets.

This small ruler can tell your dentist whether or not you have gum disease or receding gums. In a healthy mouth, the depth of the pockets between the teeth are usually between 1 and 3 millimeters mm.

Any measurement higher than that may mean you have gum disease. If your dentist finds any abnormal lumps , lesions, or growths in your mouth, they may perform a gum biopsy.

During a biopsy , a small piece of tissue is removed from the growth or lesion. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope to check for cancerous cells. If oral cancer is suspected, your dentist may also order imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread.

Tests may include:. Most dental and oral problems can be prevented with proper oral hygiene. Cavities are also called caries or tooth decay. These are areas of the tooth that have been permanently damaged and may even have holes in them. Cavities are fairly common. They occur when bacteria, food, and acid coat your teeth and form a plaque.

The acid on your teeth starts to eat away at the enamel and then the underlying dentin, or connective tissue. Over time, this can lead to permanent damage.

Gum disease , also called gingivitis, is inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis can make your gums swell and bleed when you brush or floss. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious infection. As periodontitis progresses, the infection can spread to your jaw and bones.

It can also cause an inflammatory response throughout the body. 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. If your teeth are sensitive , you might feel pain or discomfort after having cold or hot foods or beverages. It can also be the result of:. Most of the time, naturally sensitive teeth can be treated with a change in your daily oral hygiene regimen.

There are specific brands of toothpaste and mouthwash for people with sensitive teeth. Shop for toothpaste and mouthwash made for people with sensitive teeth.

Oral cancers include cancer of the:. A dentist is usually the first person to recognize oral cancer. Tobacco use, such as smoking and chewing tobacco, is the biggest risk factor for oral cancer.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation OCF , nearly 50, Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. In general, the earlier that oral cancer is diagnosed, the better the outlook. Oral health has risen in importance in recent years, as researchers have discovered a connection between declining oral health and underlying systemic conditions.

It turns out that a healthy mouth can help you maintain a healthy body. According to the Mayo Clinic, oral bacteria and inflammation may be associated with:. Bacteria can spread from your oral cavity to your bloodstream, causing infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening infection of your heart valves.

Your dentist may suggest you take antibiotics as a preventive measure before they perform any dental procedure that could dislodge bacteria in your mouth.

Your dentist will recommend other treatments if you show signs of gum disease, infections, or other problems. A professional cleaning can get rid of any plaque you may have missed while brushing and flossing.

These cleanings are usually performed by a dental hygienist. After all the tartar is removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a high-powered toothbrush to brush your teeth. This is followed by flossing and rinsing to wash out any debris.