Your mouth is ‘a doorway to your body’. A healthy mouth will allow you to keep the harmful bacteria away from your body, preventing you from acquiring harmful diseases. 

Dental care is one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare, particularly in Pakistan, where we only see the dentist if we have a toothache, maybe a bad smile, or tooth loss that is causing a problem eating. Just think about when you last visited your dentist and what was the purpose behind the visit. Let’s dive deeper into your topic to see how oral health impacts your overall life.
You will notice that we, as a population, don’t have the same concept of regular dental visits as other populations do. There are two major reasons for this: First, we don’t consider oral health as important as our general health, and secondly, most people believe that dentists charge a lot. On the other hand, dental outpatient department (OPDs) at multiple teaching hospitals provide effective oral care at an affordable price range.
Oral Care and Its Role in Our Health
Our mouth has the optimal temperature for the growth of bacteria as they feed on the nutrients present in our saliva. The number of bacteria has both good and bad kind wherein beneficial bacteria promote oral health, while harmful bacteria cause dental diseases.
Once the harmful bacteria overgrow due to poor oral hygiene, they cause periodontal diseases and dental decay (cavities). These bad bacteria can move from your mouth into your blood, increasing your body’s bacterial count. This causes inflammation in the body appearing as a fever. The inflammation will cause the liver to release a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP). Short-term releases of CRP don’t harm the body, but prolonged high levels of CRP can increase your risk of a major diseases.
Changes in Oral Cavity as the Years Pass
Your oral health in your forties will never be as good as it was in your teens and adolescence. Just like your hair ages and appears white when you reach your fifties and sixties, your oral cavity also changes a lot.
•    The loss of the top surface tooth layer, known as enamel, will make your teeth appear less white. It will make your teeth appear yellowish in colour as the dentine is expressed on the teeth.
•    Your gums will shrink, and you’ll also be able to see the tooth roots that were once covered with gums and bones.
•    Oral muscles that help in chewing will also weaken with time. Your bones will become less dense and appear thinner and resorbed to you, particularly if you have lost your teeth.
•    Depending on your oral habits, you may also notice white specks, black lines, and fibrous patches on your cheek.
Rampant Oral Diseases
The most common problems identified in an oral cavity are gum diseases, tooth decay, and dental cavities. The Pakistani population commonly experiences oral cancer and dry mouth due to excessive consumption of nicotine, betel nuts, and areca nuts.
Gum Diseases
Swollen gums that are red in color and bleed spontaneously reveal that you’re suffering from gum disease. Gingivitis, a milder form of gum disease, inflames the soft gingiva due to severe plaque accumulation. Neglecting gingivitis can result in continuous accumulation of plaque and calculus, leading to periodontitis and eventual tooth loss.
When there is an abundance of bacteria in the mouth, the gums recede and bone loss occurs. Losing bone can cause the tooth to become mobile and come out on its own, or it may require a tooth extraction. Only a dentist with an ultrasonic scaler machine can remove the white, chalky substance known as calculus if the plaque remains untreated for days. 
Dental Caries 
A dental cavity, or tooth caries, is a bacterial infection where the tooth starts to erode, forming holes in the tooth. This will manifest as brown or black cavities on the tooth, visible only to the naked eye. As the plaque accumulates on the tooth surfaces, bacteria eat it. In return, the bacteria produce acid that erodes the tooth. Sometimes, only a dental x-ray can diagnose the cavity, as it may not be visible to the eyes. 
Additionally, these cavities are contagious and may invade the deeper surfaces of the tooth, reaching the nerves. This will cause intense pain and necessitate root canal therapy. When the tooth isn’t salvageable it may need to be extracted. However, a simple dental filling can prevent early cavities.
Do Genes Play Any Role in Tooth Health and Decay?
Regardless of your genetic makeup, you can prevent cavities 100% of the time. Your oral hygiene habits play a crucial role in preventing caries. Genes do play a vital role in oral structures, which can directly and indirectly affect your oral anatomy.
Your genes define how hard your tooth’s surface enamel will be, the stronger the enamel, the better it will be able to retain important minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphorus to fight caries.
The saliva constituency will also determine whether you have caries or not. Individuals with dry mouth and those who produce less saliva are more likely to suffer from caries than those who produce more saliva.

Maintaining Oral Hygiene
Adopting a proper oral hygiene routine can prevent rampant dental problems. Here’s what a dentist prescribes as a day-to-day routine.   
•    Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush.
•    Never go to bed before brushing your teeth. Leftover food in your mouth will feed bacteria, causing them to produce acid throughout the night.
•    Don’t forget to brush your tongue, as it harbours bacteria.
•    To get rid of food particles stuck between your teeth, floss once a day.
•    Use an antibacterial mouthwash to lessen harmful bacteria in your mouth.
•    Drink more water. This will improve your overall health and wash off sticky foods in your mouth.
•    Avoid eating sticky and sugary food. Fermentable carbohydrates contribute more to caries.
•    Adopt a balanced diet that includes all groups of nutrients.
•    Visit your dentist twice a year to determine if you’re developing any dental disease at an early stage.
When Should I Seek a Dentist’s Help?
Ideally, you should visit your dentist twice a year. This step ensures that you are not suffering from any dental disease, and in case you’re suffering, your dentist will provide you with a solution to restore your oral health at an early stage.
However, you may see a dentist if you experience:
•    Tooth pain
•    Bad breath or halitosis
•    Bleeding and swollen gums
•    Bad smile and apparent caries
•    Abnormal oral changes
Patient’s Rights During a Dental Visit 
Here are some of your rights as a patient when visiting a dentist:
•    You are free to choose your dentist and schedule an appointment in a timely manner.
•    You have the right to know the educational status of the patient with a verified degree and a valid Pakistan Medical Council License.
•    You have the right to have enough time to ask questions and receive satisfactory answers.
•    You have the right to know in detail about your dental problem and the treatment options.
•    You have the right to know the cost of treatment in advance.
•    You have the right to receive considerate and responsible dental care.
•    You have the right to question the dental team about infection control and sterilisation protocol.

A dentist by profession and a writer for over five years. She has been raising awareness regarding oral diseases.
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