Oral health is fundamental to daily activities like eating, speaking and smiling. It also contributes to an individuals general well being as it is now recognized that health and happiness are not just about the absence of disease. This is reflected in the new WHO definition of health which now includes social and emotional well being. The development of patient based measures for the psychosocial impact of oral conditions has been rapid in recent years with numerous papers published internationally. These have shown that people with chronic oral conditions experience debilitating impacts on their quality of life with those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds reporting greater impact than those from more advantaged backgrounds. Impacts on a person’s quality of life are also affected by personality characteristics and the way they manage their condition.
Oral conditions can affect a person’s ability to smile, talk and eat and therefore their self esteem and social interactions. This can lead to them avoiding situations that might cause embarrassment or discomfort due to their poor dental health. This can impact their work and school performance and overall wellbeing. It can also increase healthcare costs due to increased reliance on dental procedures such as fillings, root canals and extractions.
Moreover, it has been demonstrated that those with poor oral health have higher incidence of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. These are associated with reduced quality of life and increased hospital admissions, costs and death. In order to reduce the burden of oral diseases on health and economic systems it is important that they are incorporated into peoples’ overall health care plans and delivered alongside primary healthcare interventions.
Oral health has been identified as an essential component of an individual’s overall health and wellbeing by WHO in their Global Oral Health Strategy. It is also recognized in many national and international health policy documents in the US such as Healthy People 2020, the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health, the Burden of Oral Disease Tool for State Documents and NIDCR strategic plan.
Public health and dentistry are traditionally seen as separate fields but they often intersect, such as in the delivery of community water fluoridation, reduction of tobacco and alcohol use, promotion of good nutrition and cancer screenings. In addition, dental research is often carried out in conjunction with public health to help prevent oral disease and improve a person’s quality of life.
It is important to recognize the role that mental health plays in oral health, as it can impact a person’s behaviour and decision making. It can also contribute to their utilization of dental services, such as going to the dentist, and the effectiveness of those visits. This is exacerbated by the fact that a number of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder, can contribute to poor oral hygiene and dental treatment adherence. This in turn can lead to further poor oral health outcomes and a downward spiral of negative consequences. So visit your local dentist in Northbrook, IL now to learn more on how you can maintain you oral health properly.
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