The theme of this year’s Dental Health Week is ‘Mind, Body, Mouth, it’s all connected’, so WBHHS teams are focusing on the links between diseases in the mouth and diseases in the body.
They say bacteria from the mouth can travel all around the body and where there is inflammation in the mouth this can increase inflammation in other parts of the body.
There is a particularly strong link between severe gum disease and conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Often, issues with our mouth, teeth or gums can be an early indication that there is something serious occurring within our bodies.
Bundaberg Team Leader and Senior Oral Health Therapist Tania Ellis says the week provides an opportunity to deliver education that ensures our community has the healthiest smiles possible.
“Health, in general, can seem overwhelming to manage, but our oral health messages are fairly simple, and stay the same all year round,” Ms Ellis says.
“Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is one of the simplest things you can do to protect those pearly whites.
“On top of that, it’s really important that when you’re brushing your teeth, you brush, spit and leave. Fluoride is not added to the town water supply across the Wide Bay and Burnett regions, so rinsing after you brush removes the incredibly beneficial fluoride you’ve just introduced to your mouth.
“We also encourage people to eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake. A piece of cake and a sweet treat are fine from time to time, but when consumed in high amounts, they can negatively affect the health of your mouth, teeth and gums as well as the rest of your body.
“To round it out, we also suggest that you visit the dentist regularly for checks ups and preventative care. We know seeing the dentist isn’t high on everyone’s list of fun things to do, but preventative care is crucial to ensuring any issues in the mouth don’t snowball to affect the rest of the body.”
