Mouth is mirror of health: Dr.n.rathnayaka

‘World Oral Health Day - March 19, 2018’

All dental diseases are preventable but they could be fatal if not detected early and the oral health is a reflection of the overall health of a person, a health seminar was told.

If you detect white spots, a wound that does not heal or if you cannot open your mouth properly seek immediate medical advice from a qualified dental surgeon because those signs could be early symptoms of oral cancer, Community Dental Surgeon Nilantha Ratnayaka said .

Addressing a seminar held for media personnel to mark the ‘World Oral Health Day’ that fell on March 19 at the Health Education Bureau, Dr. Ratnayaka said one must brush twice a day (morning and before sleep) for a minimum of two minutes his or her teeth with a good toothpaste and brush with ample mix of fluoride, check mouth, teeth and gum at least once in six months. In Sri Lanka, 1,121 deaths or three deaths per day are reported from oral cancer. Smoking, chewing of betel with areca nut, tobacco and chunam stimulate oral cancer which is fatal. At Leuko-plakia or pre cancer condition, patients cannot detect a cancer but only when pain in the mouth feel but unfortunately it is difficult to treat after detection.

Mouth is a mirror of health as a dentist can detect many a disease like HIV, TB, Syphilis, vitamin deficiency, Chickenpox or anemia by testing saliva, gum or tongue of a person.

Dr. Ratnayaka said a healthy person over 65 years of age with good oral health must have a minimum of 20 teeth and added though Sri Lanka’s health indicators in many fields are extremely satisfactory, its oral health record is not encouraging. Therefore, much attention has to be drawn to improve oral health in future.

If you detect white spots, a wound that does not heal or if you cannot open your mouth properly seek immediate medical advice from a qualified dental surgeon