Indian health experts say nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable

With proper awareness and technology nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable said health experts on Saturday September 20Speaking at the threeday 35th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Dental Research ISDR held here over 30 national and international keynote speakers emphasised the need for researchdriven collaboration across oral and craniofacial sciencesOral diseases may not always be lifethreatening but they silently erode the quality of life Nearly 85 per cent of oral problems are preventable if addressed through awareness preventive research and the use of affordable technologies Prof Dr Mahesh Verma Vice Chancellor Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University GGSIPU saidOur challenge is big Millions across rural and urban India either cannot access or cannot afford dental care Technology and innovation must bridge this gap Today as lifestyles change and the standard of living rises wellness cannot be achieved without oral health added Verma organising chairman of the conferenceHe also urged the need to give attention to oral health in the national health agendaVerma said that dental research can be conducted in 36 categories including regenerative therapies revitalising dead tissues material sciences and public health approachesThe experts also noted how alcohol begins to silently erode oral health from the very first sipDr Aswini YB from the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences stated that although it is commonly known that alcohol is harmful to the liver and body the damage begins much earlier right inside the mouthldquoOur mouth has a delicate protective lining called the mucosa Alcohol dries it out almost instantly This dryness weakens the lining triggers painful blisters and makes the mouth far more vulnerable to infectionsrdquo Aswini saidldquoAlcohol also reduces the flow of saliva the mouthrsquos natural cleansing system Without enough saliva harmful bacteria thrive infections spread faster and over time the risk of developing oral cancer increasesrdquo the doctor addedAshwini also issued a stark warning about mixing alcohol with tobaccoldquoThis deadly combination multiplies the risk of serious oral diseases including cancers Unfortunately itrsquos a habit far too common especially in Indiardquo the dentist saidOther experts at the conference urged the public to recognise early warning signs such as persistent mouth dryness sores or discomfort and to take them seriously They stressed that protecting oral health is not just about brushing twice a day but also about making smarter lifestyle choicesThe threeday conclave has drawn more than 600 delegates including 150 international participants from 20 countriesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever