Be Proud of Your Mouth!
On World Oral Health Day
2021, the DHAA is calling on governments, health professionals and
service providers to end their neglect to the oral health of all
Australians.
Many common
oral diseases including tooth decay, gum diseases, and oral cancers, are
preventable. Evidence links oral diseases to to cardiovascular disease,i pulmonary disease,i diabetes ii and dementia. iii Oral diseases can also be associated with poor nutritional status and affect quality of life iv through oral pain, discomfort, speech impairment, and social withdrawal. v vi
Specifically, residents in aged care are at higher risk for aspiration
pneumonia because of bad oral health. In severe cases, this
necessitates acute hospital care and may even lead to death.
Historically,
dentistry adopts a treatment dominated, invasive and high-tech approach
to care that is often expensive. Nearly one in five people delayed or
avoided seeing a dental practitioner due to cost. The number is five
times higher than the number of people who failed to see a General
Practitioner. vii DHAA Oral Health Promotion and Public
Health Committee Chair Mr Ian Epondulan said a focus on preventive care
and a minimal intervention approach is needed to reduce the burden on
the historical treatment paradigm that has shown to be ineffective. viii
Given the
increasing economic and morbidity costs of oral diseases and the links
to general health, Mr Epondulan believes oral health professionals and
early intervention for oral diseases can have a significant positive
impact on the quality of life of patients, while diminishing the
economic burden for society. ix
“Governments,
health professionals, and service providers often treat oral health
separately from all other health services in terms of funding, service
infrastructure and planning, despite the evidence that oral health is an
integral element of overall health” said DHAA President Ms Cheryl Dey.
“This separation has led to significant health, social and economic
ramifications.” “It is time for all of us to recognise and prioritise
oral health within the health system, as we have neglected it for too
long and there is a lot of catching up to do.”
Dental
hygienists, oral health therapists and dental therapists are an
under-utilised, yet powerful workforce that could improve the current
undesirable situation. These oral health professionals have a
preventative and health-promotion focus, and should be a key driving
force to improve the health status for all Australians.
Media Contact:
Bill Suen 0412 831 669 [email protected]
i
Manger D, Walshaw M, Fitzgerald et al, Evidence summary: the
relationship between oral health and pulmonary disease, British Dental
Journal, 2017, 222(7) 527-533
ii
D’Aiuto F, Gable D, Syed Z et al, Evidence summary: the relationship
between oral health and diabetes, British Dental Journal, 2017, 222(12)
944-948
iiiDaly
B, Thompsell A, Sharpling J et al, Evidence summary: the relationship
between oral health and dementia, British Dental Journal, 2017, 1-8
ivHugo
C, Cockburn N, Ford P et al, Poor nutritional status is associated with
worse oral health and poorer quality of life in aged care residents,
The Journal of Nursing Home Research Sciences, 2016 (2) 1-5
vCouncil
of Australian Governments Health Council, Healthy Mouths, Healthy
Lives: Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024. Adelaide: South
Australian Dental Service
viNational
Advisory Council on Dental Health, Report of the National Advisory
Council on Dental Health 2012, Commonwealth Department of Health and
Ageing
viiAustralian Bureau of Statistics 4839.0 - Patient Experiences in Australia: Summary of Findings, 2017-18
viiiWatt
R, Daly B, Allison P et al, Ending the neglect of global oral health:
time for radical action, The Lancet, 2019 (394) 261-272
xi
Reference: Borgnakke, W. (2015). Does Treatment of Periodontal Disease
Influence Systemic Disease? Dental Clinics of North America. 59 (4)
885–917.
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2015.06.007