Good oral health - More than fresh breath!

Celebrating Oral Health Month

In April, we celebrate Oral Health Month. It is a time to reflect on the importance of good oral health in maintaining one's overall health. It is also a time to acknowledge the important work of researchers across Canada who are helping to improve the oral health of Canadians.

Oral health is one of the priority areas of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA). We support research with the aim of improving our understanding of oral health issues and improving access to high quality oral health care for all Canadians.

It's important because oral health affects more than just your breath. If you have problems with your teeth, you may have to change your eating patterns, possibly resulting in nutritional deficiencies or involuntary weight loss. And cavities and gum disease have been linked to serious chronic illnesses such as diabetes, respiratory and heart disease. By maintaining good dental hygiene practices and getting professional dental care, you can have a lasting impact on your health.

These issues were the focus of a recent Café Scientifique that IMHA hosted in Winnipeg. At the Café we heard from several leading CIHR researchers. We heard how dental health professionals are being integrated into innovative models of care that focus on a person's
overall health and well-being. We heard how the mouth can be seen as "a window into the body", providing an early indication of disease elsewhere in the body. We heard about a possible link between gums disease and rheumatoid arthritis in First Nations communities. And we heard how severe cavities in early childhood can have a lasting impact on health and well being. The Café inspired many questions and a great deal of discussion.

We are proud to support the work of researchers across Canada who are making significant contributions to improving oral health and oral healthcare in Canada. Their work is providing fresh insights that may lead not just to fresher breath, but to better health for many people.

Dr. Phillip Gardiner
Scientific Director
CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis

Did You Know?

There may be a link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Canada. Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease caused by bacteria that infects the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth, resulting in inflammation and tooth loss in some cases. Research suggests that bacteria may enter the bloodstream through the mouth and invade the heart and blood vessels, leading to inflammation that may contribute to cardiovascular disease. By preventing periodontitis through good oral hygiene, we may reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease.
(Source: Cochrane Collaboration)