Taking care of your mouth is just as important as taking care of the rest of your body! Dental care, also called oral health care, helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. This can prevent pain, bad breath, and even tooth loss.
What is Dental Care or Dental Health Care?
Dental care, or oral health care, is all about keeping your mouth healthy. Just like you wouldn’t want a dirty house, you don’t want a dirty mouth! A clean mouth means healthy teeth, gums, and tongue.
This can help you avoid problems like cavities (holes in your teeth), gum disease (swollen gums that bleed easily), and bad breath.
Good dental care is important for everyone, from little children to older adults. Here in Bangladesh, many people experience dental problems, especially in rural areas.
This can be because there aren’t enough dentists, or because people don’t know how to take care of their teeth properly. There are two main parts of dental care:
- Brushing and flossing your teeth at home everyday. This removes plaque, a sticky film that builds up on your teeth and can cause cavities.
- Seeing a dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. The dentist can check for problems early on, when they’re easier to treat. They can also clean your teeth more thoroughly than you can at home.
By taking care of your teeth and mouth, you can keep your smile healthy and bright for a lifetime!
A Snapshot of Dental Health in Bangladesh
A study by Khatun et al. (2014) highlights several challenges in accessing dental health care services in Bangladesh. This research sheds light on dental care habits and challenges faced by people in Bangladesh. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:
Dental Checkup Frequency:
- The majority (51.69%) visit a dentist within 2 years, while the rest wait over 2 years between checkups.
- Only 3.9% of respondents visit a dentist regularly, indicating a lack of routine dental care.
Reasons for Dental Visits:
Emergency situations are the primary reason for dental visits (90.65%) compared to regular checkups (9.35%). This suggests a reactive approach to oral health rather than preventive care.
Barriers to Dental Care:
Cost is the biggest hurdle for many (63.9%), preventing them from seeking treatment even when needed.
Soft Drink Consumption:
A significant portion (around 80%) consumes soft drinks regularly (medium or high intake). This can contribute to dental problems like cavities.
Chewing Gum Habits:
While a good portion doesn’t chew gum regularly (43.12%), a considerable number (38.18%) are medium or high consumers.
Tooth Cleaning Practices:
Although most (48.83%) use toothbrushes, a significant number (around 51%) still rely on traditional methods like chewing sticks (25.71%) or even fingers (25.45%) for cleaning.
Brushing Frequency:
Fortunately, a large majority (83.12%) brush their teeth regularly. This is a positive finding in terms of maintaining oral hygiene.
The data reveals a mixed picture of dental care habits in Bangladesh. While some positive aspects exist, like regular brushing and a decrease in finger/stick usage, challenges remain.
Limited access to regular checkups, cost barriers, and high soft drink consumption highlight the need for increased awareness and improved affordability of dental services.
Dental Health in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities
Bangladesh faces a significant challenge in maintaining good oral health for its citizens. While dental care is essential for overall health and well-being, access to proper dental services and awareness about oral hygiene practices remain limited, particularly in rural areas.
High Rates of Oral Diseases:
Research shows that over 80% of the Bangladeshi population suffers from at least one oral health problem. This vulnerability is concerning, considering that oral diseases can range from cavities and gum disease to even oral cancer. Globally, oral diseases affect nearly half the population, highlighting the seriousness of this issue.
Limited Access to Dental Care:
A major hurdle in Bangladesh is the insufficient number of dentists. The current ratio falls far short of what’s needed, with only about 0.2 dentists per 100,000 people. This lack of professionals is particularly acute in rural areas, where people often have to travel long distances for basic dental services.
Rural vs. Urban Disparities:
The gap in dental care between urban and rural areas is substantial. Many rural communities lack dental clinics altogether, relying on infrequent visits from volunteer programs. In contrast, urban areas have a higher concentration of dentists and private dental clinics.
Traditional Practices and Lack of Awareness:
Traditional practices like using neem sticks or ash for cleaning teeth, while well-intentioned, may not be as effective as proper brushing and flossing. Furthermore, a lack of awareness about the importance of oral hygiene and the dangers of habits like betel nut chewing further contributes to dental problems.
Opportunities for Improvement:
Despite the challenges, there are opportunities to improve dental health in Bangladesh. Increasing public awareness campaigns on oral hygiene practices and the benefits of regular dental checkups can significantly impact preventative care.
Additionally, government initiatives to expand dental healthcare access in rural areas, potentially through mobile clinics or training local healthcare workers, could make a big difference.
Oral Health Status of Bangladesh According to the World Health Organization (WHO)
According to the WHO Oral Health Country Profile for Bangladesh, the country faces significant challenges in oral health, with high prevalence rates of untreated dental caries, severe periodontal disease, and lip and oral cavity cancer.
Oral Disease Burden
The prevalence of untreated caries of deciduous teeth in children aged 1-9 years is 43.5%, while the prevalence of untreated caries of permanent teeth in people aged 5 years and above is 30.4%. These high rates indicate a significant unmet need for dental care, particularly among children.
The prevalence of severe periodontal disease in people aged 15 years and above is 23.4%. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
The prevalence of edentulism (complete tooth loss) in people aged 20 years and above is 1.2%. While this rate is relatively low compared to other oral health indicators, it still represents a significant number of individuals who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
In 2020, there were an estimated 13,985 new cases of lip and oral cavity cancer in Bangladesh, with an incidence rate of 9.5 per 100,000 population.
The incidence rate was higher in males (12.4 per 100,000) compared to females (6.5 per 100,000). Oral cancer is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, and early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes.
Risk Factors for Oral Diseases
Several risk factors contribute to the high prevalence of oral diseases in Bangladesh. The per capita availability of sugar is 16.9 grams per day, which is a significant risk factor for dental caries.
The prevalence of current tobacco use among people aged 15 years and above is 35.2%, with a higher rate among males (52.5%) compared to females (17.9%). Tobacco use is a major risk factor for oral cancer and periodontal disease.
Per capita alcohol consumption among people aged 15 years and above is 0.0 liters of pure alcohol per year, indicating that alcohol consumption is not a significant risk factor for oral diseases in Bangladesh.
Economic Impact
The total expenditure on dental healthcare in Bangladesh in 2019 was estimated at 13 million US dollars, with a per capita expenditure of 0.1 US dollars. These low levels of spending on dental care suggest that access to affordable dental services may be limited for many Bangladeshis.
The total productivity losses due to five oral diseases (untreated caries in deciduous and permanent teeth, severe periodontal disease, edentulism, and other oral conditions) were estimated at 637 million US dollars in 2019. These losses highlight the significant economic burden of oral diseases on individuals, families, and society as a whole.
Fluoride toothpaste, a key intervention for preventing dental caries, is considered unaffordable in Bangladesh, with an estimated 2.8 labor days needed to buy an annual supply for one person. Affordability is a significant barrier to the use of preventive oral health services.
National Health System Response
Bangladesh has implemented a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, which may help reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and lower the risk of dental caries. However, the country does not have a national oral health policy, strategy, or action plan in place.
The Ministry of Health in Bangladesh has dedicated staff working on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including oral health.
However, noma (cancrum oris), a severe form of necrotizing stomatitis, is not recognized as a national public health problem in the country.
Oral Health Workforce
Bangladesh has a relatively low ratio of oral health professionals per 10,000 population. In 2019, there were 0.6 dentists per 10,000 population.
The country also had 23 dental prosthetic technicians in 2019, but data on the number of dental assistants and therapists was not available.
The availability of procedures for detecting, managing, and treating oral diseases in primary care facilities in the public health sector is limited.
Oral health screening for early detection of oral diseases, urgent treatment for providing emergency oral care and pain relief and basic restorative dental procedures to treat existing dental decay are generally available.
Oral Health Interventions in Health Benefit Packages
The largest government health financing scheme in Bangladesh does not cover routine and preventive oral health care, essential curative oral health care, advanced curative oral health care, or rehabilitative oral health care.
This lack of coverage for oral health services in the public health system may contribute to the high prevalence of untreated oral diseases and the low utilization of dental services.
Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush.
- Floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth.
- Maintain a balanced diet and limit sugary drinks and foods.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
- Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings, even if you have no apparent problems.
Developing a Brighter Future for Oral Health in Bangladesh
- Increased Public Awareness Campaigns: Educational initiatives can highlight the importance of oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
- Expanding Dental Care Access: Government programs like mobile clinics or training local healthcare workers in rural areas can bridge the gap in dental services.
- Making Dental Care Affordable: Subsidies or insurance plans can make dental care more accessible for low-income individuals.
- National Oral Health Policy: A comprehensive plan can prioritize oral health, address risk factors, and improve the oral health workforce.
Conclusion
The WHO Oral Health Country Profile for Bangladesh highlights the significant burden of oral diseases in the country, with high prevalence rates of untreated dental caries, severe periodontal disease, and lip and oral cavity cancer.
The country faces challenges in terms of risk factors, economic impact, national health system response, oral health workforce, and coverage of oral health interventions in health benefit packages.
Addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive approach that includes preventive measures, improved access to affordable dental services, and integration of oral health into the broader health system.
Additional Resources:
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/oral-health-bgd-2022-country-profile
