The FDI World Dental Federation defines oral health as a “multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex (head, face, and oral cavity). Oral health means the health of the mouth. No matter what your age, oral health is vital to general health and well-being.”

With news coming from the our federal government around new coverage for dental care is bringing attention to this often ignored aspect of our health. According to the “State of Oral Health in Canada” report, “most oral health conditions are preventable and treatable if detected early.”

What we may not know is that oral disease can affect every aspect of your life, including personal relationships and self-confidence. It can lead to pain, anxiety, disfigurement and acute/chronic infections. It can also disrupt your sleep and affect how or what you eat — all of which can impact your overall quality of life.

You may find it surprising that seven out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some point in their lives. Understanding the health and lifestyle risk factors and adopting a good oral health hygiene practice will help us not only maintain good oral health but avoid many of the associated health issues that can occur as a result of oral health disease.

This week we are joined by Katherine Peddle, a Registered Dental Hygienist with the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals and founder of Mobile Smiles and Cindy Holden, who is also Registered Dental Hygienist, who convenes the Research Exchange Group on Oral Health at Memorial University to discuss oral health, its impact on our overall health and important research that is not only addressing some of the specific challenges in our province but influencing dental health policy.