Nursing

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Title page per APA format

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Common Health Practices and their Relationship to Well-Being

Introduction to the entire paper

Oral Health

oral health is the example, delete this example and start with nutrition

Oral health is important to general health and physical well-being. Although the

emphasis in this paper is on the physiologic aspects of common health practices, it is

important it is important to remember the impact oral health can have on socialization,

self-esteem, and communication (Honkavuo, 2019).

Benefits and Consequences Associated with Oral Health Practices

Keeping the mouth clean reduces the number of microorganisms that have the

potential to thrive and multiply. Many types of bacteria find a home in the human mouth

and multiply due to the moisture and nutrition they find there. According to Cooper &

Spiliadis (2021), when microorganisms multiply and collect on surfaces, biofilms can

develop. While some biofilms are helpful to humans, many are harmful. Cooper and

Spiliadis assert that a too common example of a harmful biofilm is dental plaque that

can build up on the surface of teeth.

In addition to serving as a food source for microorganisms, biofilm contributes to

the development of periodontal disease (Cooper & Spiliadis, 2021). The biofilm impacts

gingival tissue creating inflammation and separating the gingival tissue from the tooth.

This gives the microorganisms easy access to the blood stream. When microorganisms

have easy access to the bloodstream they spread systemically and contribute to

inflammation of tissues and organs throughout the body (Honkavuo, 2019). The causal

relationship of poor oral health to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's

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Disease, and even premature and low weight babies has been established for some

time (Fiorillo, 2019).

More recently the relationship between some cancers (in addition to oral cancer)

and oral health has been established. According to Cooper & Spiliadis (2021),

whenever microorganisms are together to extended periods of time, they use that

opportunity to produce chemicals and carcinogens which can be seeded throughout the

body.

Bacteria in the mouth also have the opportunity to directly enter the lower airway.

This increases the risk of life threatening aspiration pneumonia (Story, 2022). And

according to the European Federation of Periodontology (2021) those with gum disease

were more likely to develop complications from COVID and need a ventilator. They also

state that individuals with gum disease were nine times more likely to die from COVID

than those with healthy gum tissue.

A number of pathogenic microorganisms spread via droplets or are airborne.

When the oral mucosa is intact it serves as a line of defense by denying

microorganism a portal of entry into the body (Braun & Anderson, 2017).

One additional benefit of good oral health is that it promotes better nutrition. A

healthy mouth stimulates appetite as well as provides the opportunity to ingest fresh

foods that require chewing. Better nutrition affords a host of health benefits.

Barriers and Motivating Factors that may Impact Oral Care

Education emphasizing why oral care is important for both dental health and

systemic health may serve to motivate some to improved oral care practices. Daily

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habits are not easy to maintain, and most individuals need to appreciate the importance

of any change before it will be implemented on a long-term basis.

Daily home care is essential to biofilm management (Cooper & Spiliadis, 2021).

Proper brushing of the teeth, flossing, and mouth rinsing can serve to have a major

impact on the reduction of biofilm in the mouth. When individuals understand what

biofilm really is and the impact it can have on health, they may be more likely to

maintain long term change.

Regular dental care and cleaning can help reduce plaque and biofilm and serve

to prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease. Regular professional care can also detect

oral problems early and so reduce the incidence of periodontal disease and serious

systemic complications of oral care.

It is important to recognize that oral health is not without cost. Running water

and oral hygiene products are not guaranteed for all. Professional dental care is out of

the reach of many due to cost or limited availability of dental care professionals (Fiorillo,

2019). This means that oral conditions that might be prevented or solved early in their

course often progress, resulting in long term health conditions that may become chronic

and irreversible.

Nutrition

Exercise

Sleep

Stress Management

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Hydration

Conclusion

References

Alpert, P. T. (2017). Oral health: The oral-systemic health connection. Home Health

Care Management & Practice, 29(1), 56-59.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1084822316651658

Braun, C.A., & Anderson, C.M. (2017). Applied pathophysiology: A conceptual approach

to the mechanisms of disease (3rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Cooper, A., & Spiliadis, J. (2021). The game changer: Biofilm removal for systemic

health. RDH, 41(8), 38 - 49.

https://ssuproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?di

rect=true&db=ccm&AN=151805959&scope=site

European Federation of Periodontology. (2021). Gum disease linked to COVID-19

complications. https:// medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-gum-disease- linked-

covid-complications.html

Fiorillo L. (2019). Oral Health: The First Step to Well-Being. Medicina (Kaunas,

Lithuania), 55(10), 676.

https://doiorg.ssuproxy.mnpals.net/10.3390/medicina55100676

Honkavuo, L. (2019). Oral Health in the Shadow of Clinical Nursing and Caring Science.

International Journal of Caring Sciences, 12(2), 674-683.

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https://ssuproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?di

rect=true&db=ccm&AN=138636055&scope=site

Peres, M. A., Macpherson, L., Weyant, R. J., Daly, B., Venturelli, R., Mathur, M. R.,

Listl, S., Celeste, R. K., Guarnizo-Herreño, C. C., Kearns, C., Benzian, H.,

Allison, P., & Watt, R. G. (2019). Oral diseases: a global public health

challenge. Lancet (London, England), 394(10194), 249–260. https://doi-

org.ssuproxy.mnpals.net/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31146-8

Story, L. (2022), Pathophysiology, A practical approach. (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett

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