Take time for your teeth

National Oral Health Month, September 2011

Siphokazi Boloyi* is a normal 11-year-old boy who likes playing soccer with his friends, visiting the park and eating sweets. But, like most other children of his age, there are certain activities that Siphokazi does not enjoy even though they are important for his health and wellbeing.

One of these is brushing his teeth, a habit that if not practiced properly can result in unpleasant and even painful oral conditions.

As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) on-going effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories with you and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of oral health and the importance of oral hygiene this National Oral Health Month.

The common cavity
According to the World Health Organisation, dental cavities are one of the most common oral ailments. A total of 60% - 90% of the world's school children have oral cavities, although this problem is not limited to children as many adults have cavities too.

Siphokazi is one of the millions of children who have dental cavities, also known as tooth decay. However, his teeth are in a far better condition than those of his father, Simon*, a GEMS member who has suffered from tooth decay for a much longer time. Simon and Siphokazi share a love for overindulging in sweet things, which is one of the reasons that they both have cavities. But Simon has had to learn the hard way to take better care of his teeth while Siphokazi still has the chance to gain control over his tooth decay.

Delaying decay
Cavities are damaged areas on the surface of the teeth that develop into small holes. Tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors including bacteria in the mouth, eating and drinking sugary foodstuffs and bad oral hygiene.

While the damage caused by cavities is permanent it can be treated by removing the decayed portion of the tooth and replacing it with a filling. This stops the decay from spreading and the cavity from becoming worse. If these cavities are not attended to, however, they can become larger and spread more deeply into the centre of the tooth, resulting in bad toothache and sometimes even serious infection and tooth loss. Treatment at this stage can be extremely expensive and in some cases you may lose the tooth.

Simon says that he wishes he had not allowed his tooth decay to spiral out of control. "When I was younger I didn't pay any attention to taking care of my teeth and the decay just got worse and worse. Eventually I was in agony and even lost two of my teeth. By that time I had to have dental crowns put on some of my teeth, which is a longer and more costly procedure, as I had passed the point where fillings would resolve my problem."

Having had personal experience of bad tooth decay, Simon is very strict about Siphokazi's oral hygiene practices. "Siphokazi already has two cavities but these were identified by the dentist early on and Sipho had fillings put in so that these cavities would not become worse. We both go to the dentist for annual check-ups and I make sure that he brushes his teeth properly and flosses just like I do. We have quite a few arguments about this, as Sipho doesn't want to be bothered with taking good care of his teeth. But one day he will thank me for saving him the unnecessary hassle and pain that comes with bad tooth decay."

Preventing oral disease
Practicing a proper oral hygiene routine is one of the most effective ways to assist in preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health. Below are 10 important tips for a good daily oral hygiene routine:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day
2. Take the time to brush thoroughly so that all your teeth receive proper attention
3. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste - this will be stated on the packaging
4. Brush at a slight angle, being sure to cover all the surfaces of your teeth
5. Brush your tongue as this helps to prevent a build-up of bacteria and dead cells
6. Do not brush too hard as this can damage your gums and open them up to infection
7. Rinse your toothbrush with clean water after each time you have used it
8. Store your toothbrush standing upwards in an open container so that it can dry properly after use - this helps to prevent any bacterial growth
9. Replace your tooth brush at least every three to four months, or when the bristles become worn out
10. Floss with dental floss between each tooth daily as this assists in removing any remaining plaque or bits of food

Over and above this, it is important to make regular visits to the dentist for check-ups in case you are developing any oral diseases. These can then be caught early on and treated like Siphokazi's cavities. If however you do not go to the dentist on a regular basis you face the risk of potentially having an oral disease that causes you severe pain and for which treatment may be both time-consuming and costly.

HIV/AIDS and oral health
The WHO states that 40 - 50% of HIV-positive individuals have some sort of fungal, bacterial or viral oral infection, such as oral thrush or herpes. These are called opportunistic infections in HIV sufferers as while they can sometimes affect people with healthy immune systems too, they take advantage of the weakened immune systems of those with HIV. HIV-positive individuals can take steps to protect themselves against certain opportunistic infections by avoiding close contact with any matter that has not been hygienically treated such as uncooked meat, lake or river water and other people who have a contagious infection.

If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.

Sources:
1. The World Health Organisation, www.who.int 
2. WebMD, www.webmd.com 
3. The Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com
4. Avert, www.avert.org 

*The member's name has been changed in order to protect his identity and that of his son.