Ministry of Public Health

Overview of Oral Health

The oral cavity is an important part of the human body. Many chronic diseases have been linked to oral hygiene problems such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular diseases and low birth weight of newborns, has been linked to periodontal disease with women, during pregnancy.

Most oral diseases are associated with poorly adopted lifestyles and behaviors of individuals. Therefore, a positive change in behavior and a change to healthy lifestyles may prevent such oral diseases.

Our goal is to raise the awareness to society members of the importance of brushing teeth daily and changing bad behaviors that adversely impact upon oral health such as smoking and the consumption of sugary foods and drinks.

The first step towards a positive behavior change is understanding and being aware of the different oral health conditions and learning how to prevent them.

Oral Health Conditions

1- Dental Caries (Tooth Decay)

There are many types of bacteria found naturally in the mouth. These bacteria form a sticky film known as plaque when they interact with starches and sugars found in foods and beverages.

As the bacteria in dental plaque start producing acids that cause wearing off the surfaces of your teeth leading to development of cavities and gum disease.

Signs & Symptoms of Dental Caries include:

White spots on your teeth, which become darker overtime.
Toothache.
Sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods and drinks.
Pain when chewing.
Bad breath.

Although dental caries is preventable, in Qatar almost 85% of school children around the age of 4-8 years old suffer from dental caries.

2- Gum Disease

Gum disease is inflammation of soft tissue (Gum) caused by toxin material secreted by bacteria in the plaque. Plaque is soft sticky films that adhere to tooth surface and contains millions of bacteria. Advanced gum disease can cause abnormal loss of bone that surround the teeth. The sign of gum disease including redness, bleeding, swollen gum, and bad breath.

Gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis can adversely impact on quality of life and well-being. It may cause problems in chewing and speaking and in severe cases it can lead to tooth loss.

However, on the bright side, gum diseases can be easily treated if action is taken early.

Signs of gum diseases are:

Red or swollen gum.
Bleeding of gums when brushing or flossing or eating.
A gum pulling away from the teeth making the teeth appear longer.
Constant bad breath.
Pus between your teeth and gums.
Mobile teeth.
Changes in bite.
Changes in partial dentures fit.

3- Halitosis

There are many causes for Halitosis:

Dental caries.
Consuming specific types of food (strong smelling or spicy food as garlic and onion)
Poor oral hygiene and accumulation of foods on teeth and tongue which cause bacterial growth.
Gum and periodontal disease.
Using tobacco products.
Medical conditions such as:

Respiratory Infection (chronic sinusitis).
Diabetes.
Tonsillitis.
A gastrointestinal disorder.
A liver or kidney disorder.

4- Dry mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth is a reduction saliva production leading to inability for the mouth to rinse itself and remove debris and particles left behind by food.

Causes of dry mouth:

Certain medicines.
Salivary gland problems.
Diabetes.
Continuously breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.

5- Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the result of a tumor which develops in any part of the mouth such as (tongue, lips, inside cheeks, roof of the mouth(palate), gums, throat, floor of mouth, salivary glands).

Studies show that the main causes of oral cancer are cigarettes, cigar or pipe smoking, use of smokeless and tobacco.

Signs and symptoms on Oral Cancer:

Mouth ulcers that do not heal within several weeks.
Swellings/thickenings, bumps, rough spots/crusts areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth.
Unexplained loosening of teeth.
Sockets that is not heal after extractions.
Unexplained numbness or pain/tenderness in the face, mouth, or neck.
White or red patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue.
Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within two weeks.
Soreness in the back of the throat or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat.
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue.

Tips & Advice

It is important to be aware that most oral diseases can be prevented by simple measures, such as:

Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
Use dental floss once a day.
Adopt a healthy diet.
Chang your tooth brushes every 3 months.
Visit your dentist every 6 months.
People without natural teeth also need checkups
Limit sugary foods.
Choose healthy snacks such as fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, natural yoghurt, plain and cheese.
Quit Smoking.