Oral Health
Overview
 | The term oral health refers to the health of people’s teeth, gums and supporting bone and soft tissues (including the tongue, lips and mouth).
Oral health is an important part of general health. Good oral health enables individuals to communicate well, eat a variety of foods, and is important for self esteem and social confidence. Poor oral health can reduce a person’s ability to eat a nutritious diet, affect self image and confidence and cause significant pain. |
Over the last 30 years there have been great improvements in oral health in England. However, oral diseases are still very common. The most common oral diseases are dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease (gum disease) and oral cancer. These diseases are largely preventable and share common risk factors with other general diseases for example smoking and high sugar diet.
Certain groups are particularly susceptible to oral disease. These include those who are vulnerable, disadvantaged and socially excluded.
Prevalence
National surveys of adult oral health have been carried out every 10 years in England and Wales. The results of these surveys show that adult oral health has been improving steadily. In 1968 37% of adults had no natural teeth. In 2003 this figure had fallen to 11%. However, the number of adults with no teeth is still high when compared with some European countries.
Child oral health has also improved and according to the World Health Organisation global database the oral health of 12 year old children in England is the best in Europe.
There have also been improvements in oral health of 5 year old children in the last 30 years but these improvements have slowed in recent years. Data from the 2005/06 national survey of 5 year old children continue to show that there is large variation in the decay experience of children in different parts of the country. In general 5 year old children in the south of England had the least number of teeth affected by decay whereas children in the north of England and Scotland had the most.
Prevention
Oral diseases are largely preventable. The key prevention messages are:
- Brush teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
- Reduce the total amount of sugary foods consumed
- Do not eat sugar more than 4 times a day
- Do not smoke
- Consume alcohol within recommended levels
- Visit your dentist as frequently as recommended
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Key resources
Disease groups - Oral health - Regional key resources
Disease groups - Oral health - National key resources
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Disease groups - Oral health - NICE Guidance
Disease groups - Oral health - Key organisations
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Sandra White
Consultant in Dental Public Health for South Central Strategic Health Authority
sandra.white@southcentral.nhs.uk
Postal address:
First Floor
Rivergate House
Newbury Business Park
London Road
Newbury
Berkshire RG14 2PZ
Chris Allen
Consultant in Dental Public Health South East Coast Strategic Health Authority
Christopher.allen@nhs.net
Postal address:
Department of Dental Public Health
New Court
1 New Road
Rochester
Kent NE1 1BD
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Information compiled by Anna Ireland, Specialist registrar, Dental Public Health.
Anna.ireland@miltonkeynes.nhs.uk
Last review July 2009
