Oral Health Program

The Importance of Oral Health

Per the U.S. Surgeon General, you cannot be healthy without oral health. Oral health means more than just healthy teeth. It means that all the tissues of the mouth, face, and head are healthy, including:

• Teeth,
• Gums (gingiva),
• Tissues that line the mouth and throat,
• Hard and soft palates,
• Salivary glands,
• Tongue,
• Lips,
• Chewing muscles,
• Upper and lower jaws,
• Facial nerves, which allow people to speak and express emotion, and
• Blood vessels that sustain the oral tissues and link the mouth with the rest of the body.

Poor oral health can lead to:

• Infections of the teeth (dental caries) and gums (periodontal disease)
• Tooth loss
• Pain and limited ability to chew or swallow
• Increased risk for heart disease
• For pregnant women, increased risk of pre-term or low birth weight babies
• Difficulty in controlling diabetes and maintaining blood sugar levels
• Time lost from work or school
• High expenses to correct oral health problems
• Death and disability from oral cancers

With oral health , you are free from the numerous oral diseases and conditions that can diminish social interaction, self-esteem, chewing satisfaction, taste enjoyment and overall quality of life.

Safe and effective prevention measures can make achieving oral health across the lifespan possible for all Rhode Islanders. Practicing good oral hygiene habits daily (toothbrushing and flossing) and adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors are key measures for preventing oral disease. Healthy oral hygiene behaviors include:

• Drinking fluoridated water,
• Quitting use of all tobacco products (smoke and smokeless tobacco),
• Having dental sealants placed on children's permanent molar (back) teeth,
• Wearing a well-fitted mouthguard to prevent unintended sports-related injuries,
• Limiting the amount of sugary food and drink in the diet, and
• Receiving periodic oral cancer examinations.

It is important to note that oral diseases and conditions are not spread evenly across the population. Rhode Islanders with low income and/or limited educational attainment, the very young or the very old, those of minority race or ethnicity, special needs populations and the medically compromised can experience significant oral health disparities.