Oral health is a key indicator of overall health and quality of life. The mouth is the entrance to the digestive and respiratory tracts, and it reflects what is happening deep inside the body. Whatever we eat and drink passes through our mouth, but whenever there is an oral health condition that cannot permit a person to eat or to drink yet there is food around, people may say that the person is about to die. While oral health conditions are not regarded by the populace as life-threatening, poor oral health has been shown to be strongly associated with subsequent mortality. According to scientific researchers, tooth loss is alleged to be indirectly related to higher mortality by causing poor nutrition and poor eating behavior.
In an interview with Royal FM Radio, OHSO Legal Representative Frank RWEMA says that with good oral hygiene, such as brushing at least twice daily and interdental cleaning help keep bacteria under control and remove bacteria plaque that may contribute to offensive breath and cavitation of teeth.
Bacteria in inflamed gums (periodontal disease), can actually get into the bloodstream causing inflammation of arterial walls, help build up plaque that may harden and makes arteries to be partially clogged and consequently puts the victim at risk for a heart attack.
It is possible that without proper oral hygiene, pathogenic bacteria can lead to oral infections that can cause problems to other parts of the body. It is crucial to note that oral diseases/conditions such as caries and gum diseases share common risk factors with other chronic diseases such as heart and respiratory diseases, oral cancer and diabetes.
Ill-health, whether it is due to dental caries (decay), tooth erosion, or gum disease, imposes a significant burden not only on the individual but also on the economic productivity.
Good oral health enables individuals to communicate effectively, to eat and enjoy a variety of foods, and is important in overall quality of life, self-esteem and social confidence. However oral diseases are very common and their impact on both society and the individual are significant. Severe dental caries if not treated, can result in pain, discomfort, sleepless nights, disfigurement and tooth loss, limitation in eating function leading to poor nutrition, and time off school or work due to oral problems which are all common impacts of oral diseases”, he says.
RWEMA highlights that according to oral health facts, it is estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people globally, and the most common oral diseases are dental cavities and periodontal (gum) disease. Dental caries (tooth decay) in permanent teeth is the most common health condition according to the Global Burden of Disease 2017. More than 530 million children suffer from dental caries of primary teeth (milk teeth), Oral cancer (cancer of the lip or mouth) is one of the three most common cancers in some countries of Asia and the Pacific.
Royal FM Radio, a potential partner with OHSO, recognizes the importance of oral health and as such propagates oral health promotion messages in order to raise awareness about oral health issues and how they are taken care of. According to The National Oral Health Survey of Rwanda Draft Report 2017, oral health remains a luxury for most people in Rwanda. The World Oral Health Report 2003 too highlights that worldwide, oral health to disadvantaged people, irrespective of whether they live in world’s wealthiest or the world’s poorest countries remains a luxury. Treatment for oral health conditions in many countries is expensive and usually not part of universal health coverage (UHC). A vote of thanks goes to Government of Rwanda that has put in place medical insurance schemes, referred to as RSSB (RAMA) for workers, MMI for men and women in uniform and “Mutuelle de Sante” for the rest of Rwandans, and the good news here is - all insurances cover oral health care services.
Oral Health Solutions Organization is much committed to raising awareness on importance of oral health to general health and vice versa, making people recognize what relationship there is between oral diseases with poverty, primary education and maternal health. Despite the fact that health sector in Rwanda has improved a lot, oral health still lags behind. Many specialist physicians and dental surgeons reside in urban and semi-urban areas, and none that live or work in rural areas. As a result, rural areas in which about 95% of the population live, continue to be deprived of proper healthcare facilities. It is in this context that OHSO sees an urgent need for an effective oral health promotion program for schools, maternal settings, people with disabilities, and the rural community.
