University of the People

Course: HS 2720 Oral Health

Written Assignment Unit 2
Instructor: Joyce Belcher
27th November 2023
Oral health is a significant piece of well-being and means being free of diseases and conditions

that affect the mouth and oral cavity, for example include periodontitis (gum disease), tooth loss,

chronic oral and facial pain, dental caries (cavities), oral and jaw disease, laryngeal cancer,

stomatitis, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. Oral epidemiology can be characterized as

the investigation of dispersion and determinants of oral-wellbeing related conditions or events in

specific populaces, and the utilization of the review to control oral medical issues

(Epidemiologic Concepts in Oral Health, n.d., p. 3).

In the field of epidemiology, oral epidemiology is the only subfield of epidemiology that refers

to anatomical regions of the body; other subfields are classified by disease type,

pathophysiological or other process. Diseases such as injury epidemiology, cardiovascular

disease epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, reproductive

epidemiology, and chronic disease epidemiology are associated with epidemiology and defined

in terms of conditions. The purpose of oral epidemiology is to study and better understand the

causes of oral diseases and to improve people's oral health. Oral epidemiology is now extending

the limits of disease quantification to all areas of health, providing tools that combine clinical

dental care models and ideal methods. It also addresses conversations about oral diseases and

their relationship to biopsychosocial variables (Scient Open Access Journal, 2015).

Oral epidemiology can provide predictive power of clinical data, which is very useful in

implementing preventive strategies to reduce the occurrence of dental problems. Knowledge of

oral epidemiology has countless applications in public health, and dental caries and periodontitis

are among the most important public health problems. Clinical studies have shown that most oral

lesions are easily preventable through simple primary prevention measures such as good oral
hygiene, regular dental visits, use of fluoride products, and fissure sealants (Scient Open Access

Journal, 2015).

Risk Factors of Oral Pathology or Causes of Oral Disorders

According to the WHO (n.d), most oral diseases and conditions are brought about by a scope of

variable of risk factors, including poor hygiene, alcohol consumption, tobacco use and smoking,

and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars which causes the four major non-communicable

diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease). Excessive

alcohol consumption is considered one of the biggest risk factors for mouth cancer, and the

combination of alcohol and smoking greatly increases the risk. Drinking carbonated drinks in

addition to alcohol increases acid production in your mouth and this can lead to tooth erosion.

Dental and facial trauma can also occur from excessive alcohol consumption (NHS England,

n.d.). Consumption of all forms of tobacco (vaping, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes) increases

the risk of periodontal disease (periodontitis).

In fact, smokers are twice as likely to develop periodontal disease as non-smokers. A diet high

in sugar fosters an environment in which acid-producing bacteria can thrive. This acid dissolves

tooth enamel and causes cavities and periodontal disease. Additionally, if you don't brush your

teeth regularly between meals, a sticky film of bacteria (plaque) can form on your teeth. If left

untreated, it can cause irreparable damage to tooth enamel and, over time, can lead to permanent

loss of gums, bone, and teeth.

Prevention of Oral Pathology & Disorders

Here are some steps you can take to prevent common risk factors for oral disease and other non-

communicable diseases: Adults aged 18 to 60 are most at risk and should most likely to avoid
heavy alcohol consumption. The best way to educate them is through media such as television,

radio, newspapers and social media, since the young people use social media and the older

people watch TV. There would also be a question and answer section after each ad to answer all

kinds of questions about alcohol consumption. The implementation of nutritional awareness

campaigns by public health centers would also be a means of educating people. It would focus

on dietary choices and their relationships with a particular focus on oral health.

There would be banners and posters with vivid images depicting the harm of high sugar intake

and its effects on the teeth. Schools would run campaigns to teach young people how to brush

and floss their teeth daily. These educational campaigns should be carried out not only for

students but also for adults to make them aware of the consequences of improper tooth brushing ,

dental hygiene and visits to the dentist.

References

Epidemiologic Concepts in Oral Health. (n.d.). Jones and Bartlett Publishers (Ed.). The

Healthline Editorial Team. (n.d.). Oral health basics: Symptoms, types, causes & more.

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health#causes

National Health Service England (n.d) Alcohol and Oral health. How can excessive alcohol

consumption effect my oral health?

https://www.england.nhs.uk/mids-east/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2017/03/oral-health-poster.pdf

Veiga, & Coelho. (2015). The Importance of Epidemiology in Dental Medicine. Journal of

Dental and Oral Health, 1(4). https://scientonline.org/open-access/the-importance-of-

epidemiology-in-dental-medicine.pdf

World Health Organization (n.d). Oral health. Risk factors https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-

sheets/detail/oral-health