Oral Health in Northeast Missouri

Oral Health Needs

            Oral health is one of the most over looked health based needs of a community. This need for good oral health is especially over looked in rural communities. These areas of the United States are typically lower at the socioeconomic level then large urban cities and with dentistry being one of the more expensive practices; it is difficult to maintain proper oral health in these regions. In Northeast Missouri (NEMO), a very rural region of Missouri, a great concern arises due to the very poor oral health that is seen in adults and children. The population of NEMO is 56,362 individuals; this is based on the populations of 6 counties in the region: Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Schuyler, and Scotland. Of this population, 17% reported poor to fair oral health (Oral Health Alliance, 2011). Almost 10,000 individuals have poor to fair oral health in this small region. Although obesity and heart disease are the predominant health risk factors in this area, oral health is a health need that can be more easily dealt with. Good oral hygiene is should not impede on a person’s lifestyle like treating obesity would. Although it is still very important to battle obesity and encourage individuals to exercise and eat properly, it is much easier to encourage an individual to brush their teeth twice a day.  

            Oral health can have many impacts on an individual, good and bad. Bad oral health can cause many negative side effects. With poor oral health comes tooth decay and loss, bad breath, periodontal disease (gum disease), pain in the mouth, and potentially an ugly smile. These issues, especially for young children, can cause much physical and psychological stress. In school, children may be teased for their poor teeth and bad breath. Poor oral health can also cause eating problems. Children with poor oral health may not be able to consume the foods that they need, or may not want to eat because it could cause them pain. These troubles can be detrimental for a developing child. The constant torment that is associated with poor oral health can lead to developmental issues and can cause depression. Children deserve to be happy and enjoy their childhood, not be made fun of for having bad teeth. Increasing the oral health in the community can reduce this risk. Furthermore, if the parents of these children have poor oral health then it will be difficult for the child to want to have a healthy mouth since they do not have their parents as examples.  

Increasing awareness for good oral health and hygiene is important, and it is important to start forming good habits as a child. Tooth decay (dental caries) affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease ("Children's oral health," 2011). Forming good habits at a young age will create a better chance that the child will carry the habit into adulthood. Setting these habits can also benefit the parents because they can follow the steps to good oral health with their children together. There are, however, several poor habits that are commonly seen. One of these habits, named baby bottle tooth decay, named for the practice of giving children a bottle of something to have in bed ("Baby bottle tooth," 12). This is a common practice, in rich and poor households, but it is one of great concern. Providing a child with a bottle that contains milk or juice allows sugars to remain on the child’s teeth. As the child sleeps, this sugar is hydrolyzed into acid which slowly dissolves the enamel on the teeth. As enamel decreases, the tooth loses its protective covering and begins to decay. Tooth decay can cause a lot of pain for any individual, and especially for children. Moreover, loosing baby teeth prematurely could allow difficulty for the child to eat, since their permanent teeth will not grow in for several years. Habits in adults can also lead to poor oral health. Tobacco use is one of the most prevalent ways in which tooth decay and other oral complications form. Specifically, chewing tobacco is a major cause for many oral health complications. Chewing tobacco contains the same chemicals and carcinogens as cigarettes, but it also contains fiber glass. Fiber glass in the tobacco is meant to create small cuts in the gums so that the nicotine in the tobacco can enter the blood stream quicker. Due to this dangerous irritant, chewing tobacco can lead to gum disease and oral lesions other than cancer, such as leukoplakia, precancerous white patches in the mouth, and ultimately cancer of the mouth ("Smokeless tobacco and," 2010). Increasing awareness about this dangerous habit is the one of the only ways in order to stop it.

Another major concern in this region is dental office visits. Missouri ranks 42/50 with oral healthcare needs. In Missouri, only 64.3% of its residents reported that they visit a dentist annually. This value greatly differs from the national average of 69.7% (Oral Health Alliance, 2011). With 36% of Missouri’s population failing to visit dentists annually, this greatly increases oral health problems in the community. Seeing a dentist, at least annually, can greatly increase an individuals’ oral health. A dentist may advise their patient about a change that they need to make to have a healthier mouth. Seeing a dentist may also help diagnose an issue long before it has become untreatable. Treating an issue before it has gotten out of control is also the best way to avoid spending thousands of dollars on repairs.

Dentists also have a tough decision when it comes to the treatment of pregnant women. Previously, many dentists refused to treat the needs to pregnant women, especially those in the second trimester and on, because they were afraid of the effects that dental products would have on the fetus ("The kids are," 2011). New research, however, has shown that pregnant women, including those past the second trimester, who receive dental care, do not appear to increase their risk of adverse events during pregnancy. This is a very important breakthrough because it can convince dentists to continue providing care for pregnant women.

As shown through the needs of the community, oral health in Northeast Missouri is an area of health that needs an intervention. Individuals in this region are in need of better oral health and it is the job of the entire community to come together and fight this problem. Both health professionals and citizens need to realize the problem with oral health in the community and through awareness and good habits they can change the poor dental statistics of this state. Increasing awareness of the problem and teaching children in the community about the importance of oral health will yield a healthier and brighter smiling community in the future.

 References

Baby bottle tooth decay. (12, July 2012). Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/pages/Baby-Bottle-Tooth-Decay.aspx

Centers for Disease Control, Divison of Oral Health. (2011). Children's oral health . Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/topics/child.htm

National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. (2010). Smokeless tobacco and cancer. Retrieved from website: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2011). The kids are alright. Retrieved from website: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/ScienceBriefs/Archive/SNIB2011/April/Pregnancy.htm

Oral Health Alliance. NEMO Health Council, NEMO AHEC. (2011). Grant proposal