Bad teeth no laughing matter, say experts

Taking care of your teeth is certainly no laughing matter. Just as a smile speaks of the overall well-being of a person, so do the teeth.
An unhealthy mouth can cause serious life-threatening diseases, such as kidney and pancreatic cancers, as suggested by experts, during the 5th International Dental Conference of Al Noor Hospital (IDCAN).
The two-day conference, which was held on September 17 and 18, in collaboration with New York University College of Dentistry, saw local and global experts from Switzerland, the United States, Greece, Oman and Saudi Arabia, collaborate to share ideas and experiences.
The experts included maxillo facial surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, pedodontists and oral surgeons.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, the event focussed on the nation's current and future outlook in the field of dentistry.
Shaikh Nahyan reminded the audience why it's crucial to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy smile, as well as the need to dynamically further the development of dentistry in the UAE.
"I am pleased to be among skilled professionals who are committed to relieving pain and suffering and to improving the health of the global community. The room for improvement is unbelievably vast. Dentistry may have an ancient history, but it also has a boundless future," he said.
"The oral health of our population has improved steadily, although we realise that we must persistently educate the public about the vital importance of a healthy mouth," he pointed out.
During the conference, Dr Edgard El Chaar, clinical associate professor at the department of periodontics and implant dentistry, and the director of Advanced Education Programme in Periodontics at New York University College of Dentistry, highlighted on the notion of cancer prevention in line with healthy gums.
"Oral Health matters. In fact, regular screenings and periodontal exams can save teeth and lives," he said. "Researchers found that men with gum disease were 49 per cent more likely to develop kidney cancer, 54 per cent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and 30 per cent more likely to develop blood cancer."

 
Diabetes-oral disease connect
Dr El Chaar pointed out that those who suffer from diabetes, which is a common and grave concern in the UAE, have a high risk of developing disease in their mouths.
"People with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease than people without diabetes," he noted.
"Several studies have shown that gum disease is associated with heart disease. While a cause-and-effect relationship has not yet been proven, research has indicated that gum disease increases the risk of heart disease," added Dr El Chaar.
Dr Yousef Salem, prosthodontist, researcher and dental director of Al Madar Medical Centre, also highlighted on the importance of drinking clean water, as those who live in areas that contain high levels of fluoride, are likely to suffer from dental fluorisis, which can also lead to consequential affects.
Dr Salem pointed out that children aged one to four, can easily have their health affected due to ingestion of tooth paste, which contains certain levels of fluoride. Therefore, parents should be cautious on the types, as well as the amount of toothpaste, they provide for their loved ones.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com