Nearly 70 per cent of residents in the capital city do not brush their teeth in a way that would prevent their health problems from worsening, dental health experts said at the dentistry conference in the capital on Tuesday.
This lack of proper brushing could lead to dental problems like gum disease, which can in turn cause diabetes and cardiovascular disease to worsen as well as increase the risk of strokes and even Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to the lack of proper brushing, residents also fail to regularly floss their teeth.
“[About] 50 per cent of adult residents floss their teeth once or twice a week, but flossing should be a regular practice in order to prevent other systemic [bodily] health risks,” says Dr Bassam Al Dakr, periodontist at the Merhi Dental and Orthodontic Centre.
He added that the lack of proper dental care could first lead to the accumulation of bacteria and plaque. If left untreated, this could worsen into gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontal disease (loss of bone around the teeth) over time.
Dr Edward Lynch, head of dental education and research in dentistry at the Warwick University in the UK, warned that bad dental health was a direct threat to general wellbeing. “Our mouths are a direct route for bacteria to be pumped into the bloodstream,” Dr Lynch said.
Samihah Zaman
Gulf News