Public Health, Occupational Health and Epidemiology Conference

Oral health is an important aspect of general wellness impacting a patient's health, social life, and quality of life. Good oral hygiene and regular dental care prevent many issues ranging from oral cavity infections, tooth decay, and gum diseases. Public health in oral health promotes increasing access to dental care, promoting the practice of prevention, and implementing uniform prevention strategies that promote equal access to oral health for all communities.

Some of the most common dental conditions are tooth decay and gum disease; they affect both children and adults. Preventive dentistry involves regular oral hygiene activities such as brushing, flossing, and periodic dental checkups. Among public health measures used significantly to reduce the incidence of tooth decay include the fluoridation of community water supplies and dental sealant programs.

Education is the most significant tool in enhancing oral health, since public education programs educate people on the importance of nutrition, limiting intake of sugars, and giving up tobacco, which prevents them from suffering from problems with their oral health. Public health initiatives promote regular dental visits to diagnose oral diseases in the early stages, control them, and save costs by avoiding complications.

Access to dental care is the highest challenge in achieving oral health disparities among underserved populations. This hinders the desired goals. The efforts of public health seek to expand the network of reasonable access to dental care services. Examples include mobile clinics and community dental health programs, aiming at fairly accessible oral health for all. These efforts reach out to stop gaps in dental care access and improve health results.

Oral health connects with other disciplines within the science of public health because poor oral health has been linked with several conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory infections. Public health programs aim to reduce the burden of oral diseases by focusing on preventive care and accessible dental services.