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Oral Health Festival 2024

Welcome to our webpage for OH! Fest 2024, your comprehensive resource for all things related to maintaining a healthy and vibrant smile. Whether you're seeking guidance on proper oral hygiene practices, information about common dental issues, or tips for enhancing your overall dental wellness, our website is designed to be your go-to source.

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Choose a topic you'd like to learn more about...

Oral Health

What is Oral Health?

“Oral health is multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex (head, face, and oral cavity).”

  - FDI (World Dental Federation)

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Why is it important?

Oral Health affects...

  • Ability to eat

  • Speech

  • Aesthetics

Oral health is a part of overall health!

Burden of Oral Diseases in Australia

11.3 million Australians are affected by oral diseases

32% of Australians have untreated tooth decay

10% have gum disease

Dental Diseases

Tooth Decay

What is Tooth Decay?

Dental caries, widely known as tooth decay or cavities is the MOST prevalent non-communicable disease on a global scale!

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Tooth decay occurs in stages..

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Cause of Tooth Decay

  • Sugary foods such as candies, lollies and chocolate are only part of the problem…

  • Inadequate oral hygiene and plaque retention also contribute to the progression of tooth decay. 

  • The mouth is home to many different bacteria 

    • The mouth has excellent conditions for many bacteria to live in! 

      • Warm 

      • Moist 

      • Rich in Nutrients for bacteria to feed on 

      • Has various potential Sites for growth 

What is Plaque?

  • Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth.

  • Plaque begins forming on teeth surface immediately after brushing your teeth.

  • If it is not removed adequately during brushing, it grows thicker over time.

  • The thickening of plaque and increase in number of cariogenic bacteria plays a key role in the progression of tooth decay.

  • Bacteria in the mouth metabolises sugar, transforming it into acid which demineralises and weakens the tooth structure, thus causing tooth decay.

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Diet and Tooth Decay

  • Form of Sugar

    • ​Sticky sugary food is worse than a sugary liquid.

    • This is because sticky food stick to the tooth, providing more time for the bacteria to break down the sugar into acid.

  • Frequency of sugar consumption

    • After consuming sugary food, the acidic environment gradually neutralises over time.

    • Frequent sugar consumption reduces the time available for neutralisation to take place.

    • Teeth exposed to acidic environments for long periods of time are at an increased risk of tooth decay.

Tooth Erosion

  • Tooth erosion results in translucent teeth

    • Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structure caused by exposure to acids that are not from oral bacteria.

      • As the surface layer of teeth gets dissolved by acid, teeth become thinner, allowing light to pass through, giving a translucent appearance.

  • What causes tooth erosion?

    • Acidic food and drinks

    • Carbonated drinks (eg. Pepsi, Sprite)

    • Citrus fruits (eg. lemon)

    • Sour food (eg. vinegar)

    • Gastric reflux

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  • Toothbrushing after exposure to highly acidic substances

    • Highly acidic substances soften the surface of teeth. Immediate toothbrushing after acid exposure can further damage softened teeth 

    • To avoid this, rinse mouth with water or alkaline solution to increase mouth pH an wait for some time before brushing teeth.

Gum Disease

Periodontium and Gum Disease

Anatomy of the Gum

Periodontal Ligament

  • Fibrous tissue attaching the tooth to surrounding bone. 
  • Supports and anchors tooth in their sockets.

Alveolar Bone

  • Structural support for the tooth in the jawbone

Gums (Gingivae)

  • Protection of underlying bone by providing a seal around the tooth.

  • A barrier against harmful substances in mouth.

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What is Gum Disease?

  • Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease typically refer to inflammatory diseases that affect the periodontium and alveolar bone.

  • It typically begins with the inflammation of the gums, a condition known as gingivitis. If left untreated, it can progress to a more severe form called periodontitis.

Cause of Gum Disease

How does gum disease occur?

  • Plaque acts as a breeding ground for bacterua, allowing bacteria to multiply and release toxins and byproducts within the plaque.

  • This irritates the gum, eventually causing inflammation in the gums.

  • Dental plaque can also harden over time to become calculus

Gingivitis

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an inflammatory response of the gums without the destruction of the supporting tissues.

  • Plaque-induced gingivitis is the most common form of gingivitis

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Signs of Gingivitis

  • Redness of gums

  • Swelling of gums

  • Gum sensitivity

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Did you know?

Sometimes, increase in secretion of sex steroid hormones can cause inflammation and possibly bleeding of the gums!

  • Examples include puberty; pregnancy

Periodontitis

What is Periodontitis?

  • Periodontitis occurs when gum inflammation is more severe, and starts to involve the alveolar bone.

  • There is a loss of bone and gum recession.

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Signs of Periodontitis

  • Bleeding gums

    • ​On cleaning - brushing and/or flossing

    • On eating - especially hard foods and fruit

    • Spontaneous (rare) - waking up with blood on pillow or in mouth

  • Tooth mobility/loose teeth

  • Gum swelling

  • Receding gums

  • Bad breath or taste

  • May have pain in later stages

Gingivitis vs Periodontitis

What is the Difference?

  • Both gingivitis and periodontitis are forms of gum disease

  • Gingivitis is milder and reversible as there is no destruction of supporting tissues of teeth.

  • Gingivitis can become more severe and progress to periodontitis if left untreated.

  • Periodontitis is a more advanced form of gum disease involving the destruction of supporting tissues such as the periodontal ligament or alveolar bone thus making the damage irreversible!

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Risk Factors of Gum Disease

Risk Factors 

Gum disease, may be influenced by various risk factors...

  • Inadequate oral hygiene, smoking contribute to its development.

  • Conditions like diabetes and immune deficiencies also elevate the risk.

  • Regular dental check-ups and consistent oral care are essential for prevention.

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Smoking and Gum Disease

  • Effects of Smoking on Periodontal Health

    • Faster disease progression

    • Poorer treatment outcomes

    • Dose-response relationship

      • ​The more cigarettes smoked a day and the longer the total duration of smoking, the worse the periodontal disease

  • Smoking is the biggest preventable risk factor for periodontal disease

    • Quitting does not reverse the damage done, but it allows stalling of disease progression and better treatment outcomes!

Vaping and Gum Disease

​Is it safer to vape?

  • Vaping can still cause inflammation of oral tissues

  • Vaping can cause dry mouth sensation

  • Liquids may contain nicotine that suppresses immune function

  • E-cigarettes are generally NOT considered safer than conventional cigarettes

Oral Cancer

What is Oral Cancer?

  • Cancer is a disease where uncontrolled division of abnormal cells leads to the destruction of healthy body tissues.

  • Oral cancers are cancers that develop inside the oral cavity.

  • They may appear in the mouth as…

    • An ulcer that does not heal

    • A red/white patch

    • A lump/growth

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Causes of Oral Cancer

  • Several factors that can contribute to the development of oral cancer such as…

    • Tobacco use

    • Alcohol consumption

    • Betel nut chewing

    • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

    • Prolonged sun exposure

    • Poor oral hygiene 

Did You Know?

  • Oral cancer makes up 6.5% of cancers in Australia and has a 5-year survival rate of 50%!

Preventative Measures

Oral Hygiene Habits

Brushing Technique

  • Hold the toothbrush with the bristles at a 45° angle to the gumline where the gums and teeth meet. Ensure that the bristles are in contact with both the gums and the teeth.

  • Use a circular motion with the toothbrush. This helps to dislodge plaque from the tooth surface and the area along the gumline.

  • After cleaning along the gumline, clean the chewing surfaces of the teeth using a back-and-forth motion.

Flossing Technique

  • Wind each end of the floss around your middle fingers, leaving about 1-2 inches of floss between them.

  • Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss between two teeth using a sawing motion. 

  • Once the floss is between the teeth, curve it around one of the teeth. Slide the floss gently up and down against the side of the tooth.

  • Move the floss up and down the side of the tooth, making sure to go slightly below the gumline.

  • Repeat this process on the adjacent tooth.

Manual Toothbrush vs Electric Toothbrush

  • Manual Toothbrush

    • Duration: 2 minutes​

    • For Outer and Inner surfaces

      • 45° to gumline ​

      • Circular motion

    • For Chewing Surfaces

      • Scrub Horizontally

  • Electric Toothbrush

    • Duration: 2 minutes​

    • For Outer and Inner surfaces

      • 45° to gumline ​

      • Electric toothbrushes are able to produce rotary and oscillating motions on its own. Circular motions are not required

    • For Chewing Surfaces

      • No scrubbing actions are required