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What is oral health?
How are problems with the tissues in your mouth linked to health problems in other places in your body?
What are the most common oral health problems?
What are some other problems I might have with my mouth?
As a woman, why do I have to worry about oral health?
I’m pregnant. Do I need to take special care of my mouth?
I’m a new mother. What can I do for my baby’s oral health?
I’m confused! What type of toothpaste or mouthwash should I use?
I’m not happy with the stains on my teeth. How can I safely whiten them?
What small, easy steps can I take to have a healthy smile?
![]() When I was pregnant, I began to have some bleeding around my gums when I brushed my teeth. My gums also looked swollen, and I started to get worried. I knew many pregnant women have some gum bleeding when brushing their teeth, but I decided to have my dentist check them out anyway. I am glad I did! She said that my problem was worse than what usually happens during pregnancy -- I was starting to get gum disease. I didn’t even know that having serious gum disease while pregnant could lead to an infection that could harm my baby! What did the dentist do? She said having my teeth and gums cleaned, and brushing and flossing regularly can help me prevent gum disease in the future. With her help, we’re all smiling now! |
Oral refers to the mouth, which includes the teeth, gums, and supporting tissues. It is easy to take your oral health for granted, but it is key to living each day comfortably. These tissues allow you to speak, smile, sigh, kiss, smell, taste, chew, swallow, and cry. They also let you show a world of feelings through expressions. Taking good care of these tissues can prevent disease in them and throughout your body.
The health of your mouth can be a sign of your overall health. Many serious diseases, such as diabetes, HIV, and some eating disorders, show their first signs as symptoms in the mouth. This is why it is important to have complete, regular oral exams.
Most of us think of problems with the mouth in terms of cavities, toothaches, and crooked or stained teeth. Lacking healthy teeth and gums has an effect on how we look, but it also affects the health of our bodies.
The most common oral health problems are cavities and gum disease.
Dental cavities
Everyone is at risk for getting cavities throughout life. By the time most people are adults, 85 percent of people will have had a cavity!
Why?
You naturally have bacteria (germs) in your mouth. The bacteria mix with your saliva and bits of food in your mouth to form a coating (dental plaque) that sticks to your teeth. There are acids in the plaque that wear away the teeth. These acids can get inside the teeth and create holes in the teeth, or cavities.
Gum diseases
Gum disease is caused by infection or plaque around your teeth and is a common cause of tooth loss after age 35. The first stage and most common type of gum disease is gingivitis (jin-ji-vie-tus). Gingivitis irritates the gums and causes them to bleed and swell. Gum diseases are more often seen as people age, with most people showing signs of them by their mid-30s.
Periodontitis (pear-ee-o-don-tie-tus) is a more serious type of gum disease that, if left untreated, gets worse as pockets of infection form between the teeth and gums. This causes your gums to grow away from teeth and lose supporting bone. If the teeth can’t be supported, they could fall out. This disease results from bacteria in your mouth. You may be more likely to be infected with these bacteria if:
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Normal, healthy gums Healthy gums and bone anchor teeth firmly in place. |
Peridontitis Unremoved, plaque hardens into calculus (tartar). As plaque and calculus continue to build up, the gums begin to recede (pull away) from the teeth, and pockets form between the teeth and gums. |
Advanced peridontitis The gums recede farther, destroying more bone and the periodontal ligament. Teeth―even healthy teeth―may become loose and need to be extracted. |
Cold sores (herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections). If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you’re not alone. A half million people get one every year. Once exposed to this virus, it can hide in the body for years. Getting too much sun, having mild fevers that occur with a cold, or stress can trigger the virus and cause tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, enlarged and tender lymph nodes, and cold sores. These sores are very contagious and usually form on the lips, and sometimes under the nose or under the chin. The sores heal in about seven to 10 days without scarring. You can buy medicines at the drug store or grocery store to put on the cold sore to numb or relieve the pain. If cold sores are a problem for you, talk with your doctor or dentist about a prescription for an antiviral drug to help lower your chances of getting these kinds of viral infections.
Canker sores. These common, but mostly harmless, sores appear as ulcers with a white or gray base and a red border inside the mouth. They occur in women more often than men, often during their periods. The reason why they appear is unknown but some experts believe that problems with the immune system, the system in our bodies that fights disease, bacteria or viruses may be involved. Fatigue, stress, or allergies can increase your chances of getting a canker sore. You also might get one if you have a cut inside your cheek or on your tongue. Canker sores tend to be tiny and heal by themselves in one to three weeks. If you get a large sore (larger than 1 centimeter) though, it may need to be treated with medicine. Staying away from hot and spicy foods can help the pain. Using mild mouthwashes or salt water, or swabbing the sore with milk of magnesia or with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water might also help. There is no proven way to prevent canker sores, but if you get them often, take note of anything that might be irritating your mouth, and talk to your dentist or dental hygienist.
Oral fungal or yeast infections (candidiasis [can-di-die-uh-sis]). These infections appear as red or white lesions, flat or slightly raised, in the mouth. They are common among denture wearers and occur most often in people who are very young, elderly, or who have a problem with their immune system. People who have dry mouth syndrome are also very likely to get oral yeast infections. These can be prevented with good oral hygiene. If you wear dentures, clean and remove them at bedtime. Talk with your dentist or dental hygienist about medicines that may be helpful if you have a problem with these infections.
Dry mouth syndrome. This is common in many adults, especially as they age. It may make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and speak. It happens when salivary glands fail to work right, often as a side effect from medicines or from other health problems. If left untreated, it can lead to cavities because saliva helps rid your mouth of bits of food and helps stop acid from forming plaque on your teeth.
Oral cancer. This cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40. It is often found at late stages when it is harder to treat. This is because oral cancer is not usually painful―so you may not know you have it. And many people do not visit their dentists often enough to find the cancer early. The most common sites of oral cancer are on the tongue, lips, and floor of the mouth. Use of tobacco, especially with alcohol, is the main cause for these cancers. Oral cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth. Other signs include:
Oral problems from cancer therapies. Treatments like chemotherapy or radiation to the head and neck can cause dry mouth, tooth decay, painful mouth sores, and cracked, peeling lips.
You need to have good oral hygiene at all stages of your life. As a woman, your changing hormone levels during puberty, your monthly period, and menopause cause changes in your mouth. These hormone changes can cause:
If you are pregnant, you have special oral health needs.
Below are some things you need to know about your baby's oral health.
There are so many types of toothpastes to choose from! Some say they’re made for whitening, others for reducing gingivitis and plaque, and others for sensitive teeth. Before choosing toothpaste for your family, know the basics.
You might want to whiten teeth more than is possible through regular brushing, flossing, and check ups. There are several options that vary in price and in how well they work:
Before you use any whitening products, talk with your dentist first. He or she can help you decide which method is best for the type of stains that are on your teeth. Not all products will work on all people. Options offered by your dentist can be expensive, so be certain to ask your dentist to fully explain what results you can really expect. Keep in mind that whitening your teeth alone does not make your mouth any healthier.
1. Brush your teeth at least twice each day. Aim for first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth to remove food that your toothbrush missed.
Make sure you:
2. Have a healthy lifestyle.
3. Get regular check ups.
4. Follow your dentist’s advice.
Your dentist may suggest that you do different things to keep your mouth healthy. He or she can teach you how to properly floss or brush, and how often. He or she might suggest preventive steps or treatments to keep your mouth healthy.
5. If you have another health problem, think how it may affect your oral health.
For instance, if you take medicines that give you a dry mouth, ask your doctor or nurse if there’s another drug you can use instead. Have an oral exam before beginning cancer treatment. And know that if you have diabetes, good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease is very important.
For more information on oral health, contact the National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 1-800-994-9662 or the following organizations:
Division of Oral Health, NCCDPHP, CDC, OPHS, HHS
Phone: (888) 232-3228
Internet Address: http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/index.htm
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDR), NIH, HHS
Phone: (301) 496-4261
Internet Address: http://www.nidr.nih.gov
National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse (NOHIC), NIDR, NIH, HHS
Phone: (301) 402-7364
Internet Address: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/SpecialCareResources/
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
Phone: (312) 337-2169
Internet Address: http://www.aapd.org
American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD)
Phone: (800) 920-2293
Internet Address: http://www.womendentists.org
American Dental Association (ADA)
Phone: (800) 621-8099
Internet Address: http://www.ada.org
This FAQ has been reviewed by Sally J. Cram, DDS, of the American Dental Association.
Current as of July 2006
This site is owned and maintained by the Office on Women's Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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