Vismita Gupta-Smith: Why is oral health important? What are the conditions that can result from poor oral health? And what are some of the steps each of us can take to improve our oral health? Hello and welcome to Science in 5, I am Vismita Gupta Smith. We are talking to Dr Benoit Varenne today. Welcome Benoit. Let’s start with why WHO places so much importance on oral health. Why is it important for everyone?

Dr Benoit Varenne: You’re right. Oral health is everybody’s business. Oral health is the health of our mouth, our teeth and our gums. Oral health is so fundamental to our ability to breathe, to speak, to eat, but also even to smile. The mouth is a sort of starting point of our system, body system, defense and immunity. The new WHO report tells us that almost half of the world’s population is affected by some diseases, oral disease, and vulnerable and marginalized populations are particularly affected. This means that oral health and poor health is a marker of health inequalities. When oral health is compromised by disease or injury, general health is also affected. Oral disease can also have a social and economic impact in individuals and families by increasing household expenditures and seriously affecting people’s quality of life and well-being.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, explained to us, what are the conditions that can result from poor oral health?

Dr Benoit Varenne: The most common oral diseases and conditions are dental caries or tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, dental trauma or oral cancer. All these diseases are preventable and treatable in the early stages. In more severe cases, oral disease can lead to disability and even death. Oral diseases are caused by a range of risk factors. They include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy food and drinks. All these risk factors are shared with other medical conditions or noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease or mental disorders. The biggest challenges are cost and access to oral health care. In many countries oral health care are not accessible or not affordable for most people. Implementing prevention measures such as in schools, communities, and in workplace is our best approach.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, speak to us about how we can maintain and improve our oral health.

Dr Benoit Varenne: This is a great question, Vismita. We have a number of top tips valid for all ages. The most effective measure to prevent dental caries is to brush your teeth twice a day after the breakfast and before going to bed with a fluoride toothpaste. Something to remember is using toothpaste without fluoride is not effective against dental caries. Second, to help prevent dental caries and maintain general health, reduce consumption of sugar in food and drink. Water is the best drink every day at any time. Another tip is to protect your teeth and face from injury. Use protective equipment when you are doing sport, wear a helmet that covers the mouth if you are riding a motorcycle and do not forget your seatbelt if you are travelling in a car. Finally, to lower the risk of oral cancer, stop, quit smoking all forms of tobacco and reduce alcohol consumption. We should keep in mind that maintaining a good oral health has a positive impact to our general health, well-being and quality of life.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Thank you, Benoit. That was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.

1. gum n. either of the firm areas of flesh in the mouth to which the teeth are attached 牙龈；齿龈；牙床。例如：gum disease 牙龈病

2. household adj. relating to looking after a house and the people in it 家庭的，家用的，家务的 

3. trauma n. an injury 损伤；外伤。例如：The patient suffered severe brain trauma. 患者的大脑受到严重损伤。

4. cardiovascular adj. connected with the heart and the blood vessels (= the tubes that carry blood around the body) 心血管的

5. fluoride n. a chemical containing fluorine that protects teeth from decay and is often added to toothpaste and sometimes to drinking water 氟化物

6. helmet n. a type of hard hat that protects the head, worn, for example, by a police officer, a soldier or a person playing some sports 头盔

7. seatbelt n. a belt attached to the seat of a car or plane which you fasten around yourself for protection in an accident 安全带

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Why is oral health important? What are the conditions that can result from poor oral health? And what are some of the steps each of us can take to improve our oral health? Hello and welcome to Science in 5, I am Vismita Gupta Smith. We are talking to Dr Benoit Varenne today. Welcome Benoit. Let’s start with why WHO places so much importance on oral health. Why is it important for everyone?

Dr Benoit Varenne: You’re right. Oral health is everybody’s business. Oral health is (Q1) ___________________. Oral health is so fundamental to our ability to breathe, to speak, to eat, but also even to smile. The mouth is a sort of starting point of our system, body system, defense and immunity. The new WHO report tells us that almost half of the world’s population is affected by some diseases, oral disease, and vulnerable and marginalized populations are particularly affected. This means that oral health and poor health is a marker of health inequalities. When oral health is compromised by disease or injury, general health is also affected. Oral disease can also have (Q2) _______________________ by increasing household expenditures and seriously affecting people’s quality of life and well-being.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, explained to us, what are the conditions that can result from poor oral health?

Dr Benoit Varenne: The most common oral diseases and conditions are (Q3) ____________________. All these diseases are preventable and treatable in the early stages. In more severe cases, oral disease can lead to disability and even death. Oral diseases are caused by a range of risk factors. They include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy food and drinks. All these risk factors are shared with other medical conditions or noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease or mental disorders. The biggest challenges are (Q4) ______________. In many countries oral health care are not accessible or not affordable for most people. (Q5) ______________________ such as in schools, communities, and in workplace is our best approach.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, speak to us about how we can maintain and improve our oral health.

Dr Benoit Varenne: This is a great question, Vismita. We have a number of top tips valid for all ages. The most effective measure to prevent dental caries is to (Q6) _________________________. Something to remember is using toothpaste without fluoride is not effective against dental caries. Second, to help prevent dental caries and maintain general health, (Q7) ________________. Water is the best drink every day at any time. Another tip is to (Q8) ___________________________. Use protective equipment when you are doing sport, wear a helmet that covers the mouth if you are riding a motorcycle and do not forget your seatbelt if you are travelling in a car. Finally, to lower the risk of oral cancer, (Q9) ____________________________________, all forms of tobacco and reduce alcohol consumption. We should keep in mind that maintaining a good oral health has a positive impact to our (Q10) ___________________________________.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Thank you, Benoit. That was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Why is oral health important? What are the conditions that can result from poor oral health? And what are some of the steps each of us can take to improve our oral health? Hello and welcome to Science in 5, I am Vismita Gupta Smith. We are talking to Dr Benoit Varenne today. Welcome Benoit. Let’s start with why WHO places so much importance on oral health. Why is it important for everyone?

Dr Benoit Varenne: You’re right. Oral health is everybody’s business. Oral health is (Q1) the health of our mouth, our teeth and our gums. Oral health is so fundamental to our ability to breathe, to speak, to eat, but also even to smile. The mouth is a sort of starting point of our body systems, defence and immunity. The new WHO report tells us that almost half of the world’s population is affected by some oral disease, and vulnerable and marginalized populations are particularly affected. This means that oral health and poor oral health is a marker of health inequalities. When oral health is compromised by disease or injury, general health is also affected. Oral disease can also have (Q2) a social and economic impact in individuals and families by increasing household expenditures and seriously affecting people’s quality of life and well-being.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, explained to us, what are the conditions that can result from poor oral health?

Dr Benoit Varenne: The most common oral diseases and conditions are (Q3) dental caries or tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, dental trauma or oral cancer. All these diseases are preventable and treatable in the early stages. In more severe cases, oral disease can lead to disability and even death. Oral diseases are caused by a range of risk factors. They include tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unhealthy food and drinks. All these risk factors are shared with other medical conditions or noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease or mental disorders. The biggest challenges are (Q4) cost and access to oral health care. In many countries oral health care are not accessible or not affordable for most people. (Q5) Implementing prevention measures such as in schools, communities, and in workplace is our best approach.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Benoit, speak to us about how we can maintain and improve our oral health.

Dr Benoit Varenne: This is a great question, Vismita. We have a number of top tips valid for all ages. The most effective measure to prevent dental caries is to (Q6) brush your teeth twice a day after the breakfast and before going to bed with a fluoride toothpaste. Something to remember is using toothpaste without fluoride is not effective against dental caries. Second, to help prevent dental caries and maintain general health, (Q7) reduce consumption of sugar in food and drink. Water is the best drink every day at any time. Another tip is to (Q8) protect your teeth and face from injury. Use protective equipment when you are doing sport, wear a helmet that covers the mouth if you are riding a motorcycle and do not forget your seatbelt if you are travelling in a car. Finally, to lower the risk of oral cancer, (Q9) stop, quit smoking, all forms of tobacco and reduce alcohol consumption. We should keep in mind that maintaining a good oral health has a positive impact to our (Q10) general health, well-being and quality of life.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Thank you, Benoit. That was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.