A healthy mouth has a positive impact on physical, mental and social wellbeing. The health of our teeth and mouth is linked to overall health and wellbeing in a number of ways.
Poor oral health can affect a person’s quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socialises. These oral health problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
There is also an association between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, respiratory illness in older adults, as well as pre-term and low birth-weight babies.
Dental care is important because it can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, while improving overall health.
See the following links for information about common dental health conditions and ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
In this section
World Oral Health Day 20 March 2020
World Oral Health Day – 20 March 2020 ‘Unite for mouth health’
Dental erosion
Dental erosion dissolves tooth surfaces. Frequent contact with acid from food, drinks and some medicines cause dental erosion.
Your oral health
A healthy mouth is important to your general health and well being.
Drugs and oral health – dental care
tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs can affect oral health,
Dental care for adults
Dental care for adults – looking after your teeth and gums such as using fluoride toothpaste, having healthy snacks, chew sugar free gum
Children’s dental care
SA Dental Service have oral heath tips for children up to the age of 2 years and include introducing a low fluoride toothpaste and when to start brushing.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients – Dental care
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment can affect your mouth in different ways. You may experience mouth ulcers, mouth infections, loss of taste or a dry mouth.
Diabetes and dental care
Diabetes and dental care – if you have diabetes you are more likely to get gum disease affecting the bone and the tissue supporting the teeth
Dental extractions
instructions to follow if you have had a tooth extracted at an SA Dental Service clinic.
Dental emergencies what you need to know and do
Dental emergencies, what you need to know and do – what you need to do in the event of a dental emergency
Dental Health Week
Dental Health Week this year focuses on promoting key oral health messages for all age groups, dental health week is from the 3 to 9 August.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and dental care
Many people with HIV experience dry mouth, gum infections, thrush and sensitive teeth, mouth ulcers, oral hairy leukoplakia and pigmentation and unusual lumps.
Hepatitis C and dental care
Hepatitis C can affect your teeth and gums, people with hepatitis c may suffer from gum infections, dry mouth, thrush and sensitive teeth.
Dentures
How to care for your dentures or partial dentures
Fluoride and dental care
Fluoride helps to strengthen teeth and prevents tooth decay.
Gum disease (gingivitis)
Gum disease (gingivitis) affects the gums, bone and the tissue supporting the teeth – care of your gums is as important as care of your teeth
Medications and your oral health (dry mouth – xerostomia)
Some medications may cause you to have dry mouth which increases your risk of tooth decay, oral infections and gum disease.
Dental care – oral piercing
Oral piercing – facts about tongue, lip and cheek piercing – it helps to know more to make an informed decision about getting an oral piercing
Orthodontic dental treatment
Orthodontic dental treatment – orthodontic treatment can correct problems with crooked teeth and jaws and improve oral health
Spit out toothpaste, but don’t rinse
After brushing your teeth spit out the toothpaste, but don’t rinse
Dental care during pregnancy
Pregnancy and dental care – dental care before and during pregnancy is important, you may experience gum problems.
Dental care – smoking and your mouth
Smoking affects the whole body including the mouth. Smoking causes bad breath, stained teeth, reduced taste and changes to gums.
Dental care for older people
Dental care for older people
Swap sugary drinks for water
Drinking tap water instead of sugary drinks provides many benefits to our teeth, health and wellbeing.
Dry mouth
Health topics on dry mouth
Dental care and tap water
Tap water is the best drink for everyone. Water can quench our thirst, essential for our bodies to function and contains fluoride to protect teeth against decay.
Dental care for children
Dental care for children
Vaping and oral health
Using an e-cigarette is often called ‘vaping’. In recent times, the number of teenagers and young adults vaping has risen sharply.
