Oral health reflects on our overall well-being, impacting the entire body. A symbiotic relationship exists between a healthy mouth and body, influencing essential functions. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Optimal Oral Health as ‘Freedom from conditions like chronic pain, oral infections, gum disease, and tooth decay’.

The 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study notes that half of the world’s population faces dental caries, highlighting the widespread impact of oral health issues. Severe periodontal (gum) disease, ranked 11th globally, emphasizes the importance of oral care.

This year’s theme for World Oral Health Day, celebrated on 20 March, is ‘A Happy Mouth Is…. A Happy Body’ highlighting the deep link between oral health and overall well-being. Understanding how diet and eating behaviours contribute to dental caries in youngsters and adults is essential to improving oral health.

What is Dental Caries?

Dental caries is the breakdown of tooth enamel due to bacterial acid erosion. Cavities range from yellow to black colours, and symptoms may involve pain and eating difficulties. A significant correlation exists between the quantity and frequency of free sugar intake and dental caries risk.

The Relationship Between Sugar, Plaque, and Tooth Decay

Diet significantly impacts oral health, contributing to problems like tooth decay and enamel erosion. Sugary foods foster plaque, a bacterial film that produces acids, leading to enamel damage if not properly cleaned. Acidic attacks result in tooth decay and cavities over time.

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Maintaining good oral health is of paramount importance in every stage of our life. Teenagers are often negligent in their oral health care leading to long term adverse effects not only on their dental wellness but also serious negative consequences on their overall physical and mental health.

Adolescence is a period where teenagers are busy with their school/college, general and social activities, squeezing all meaning out of the very idea of what is attention-worthy for their oral health. This unmindfully leads to the habit of eating fast food items, thus neglecting their gums and teeth and leading to several dental ailments in the future.

Here are some basic tips which teens can follow to keep their attractive and healthy smiles intact:

1. Brush twice a day with an ultra-soft toothbrush and pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste.

• Aim to make an angle of 45 degrees towards the gumline.
• Move the toothbrush in gentle circles.
• Start with the top back teeth. Brush the outside surface of the teeth along the gumline, then the inner surface of teeth. Repeat the same with other teeth also.
• Move to the bottom teeth and repeat the above step.
• Brush along the chewing surface of teeth.
• Do not forget to floss after brushing the teeth.
• Gently brush the tongue.
• Brush for around 2 minutes.

Discuss with your dentist what kind of toothbrush and toothpaste is best for you.

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With 37 teeth in his mouth, Vijay Kumar V.A. from Bangalore holds the Guinness World Record for ‘The man with the most teeth’. He has five more than the average person and more than anyone else in the world. Vijay explains that there are some disadvantages to having so many teeth, one being that he often bites his tongue!

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