World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year to focus more attention on the topic of oral hygiene and health. Around the world, millions of people don’t have access to good oral health facilities. The World Oral Health Day campaign is a platform to bring global attention towards the problem and to promote constructive action at the individual, family and community level. The theme for World Oral Health Day 2019 is ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health.’ People spend thousands on their health and nutrition but pay very little attention to their oral health. So act on your mouth health and NEVER ignore these five symptoms. They could be signs of more severe disease.

Gum Pain

Swollen gums or gum pain shouldn’t be ignored, especially if it’s getting worse. Swollen gums could be a sign of diabetes. Good Habits of People Who Have Great Teeth.

Bad Breath

Common causes of bad breath include poor dental hygiene or tooth infection. But bad breath or halitosis could also be caused by other diseases like diabetes, sinus infections, chronic lung infection, liver or kidney disease or stomach problems.

Loose Teeth or Tooth Pain

As one ages, the teeth become more brittle. But ageing is not the only reason why the teeth become loose. But if your pearly whites keep falling off unexpectedly, you could have osteoporosis, which affects bone and teeth density.

Tongue Colour Change

Usually, in healthy people, the tongue is a fleshy pink colour. But sometimes, the tongue can develop a white film on top, which could be an indication of thrush or fungal infections. A bright pink tongue could point towards a B-12 deficiency. Know Everything About Dental Care During Pregnancy.

Mouth Ulcers or Sores

Canker sores or mouth ulcers are dismissed as a simple oral health problem. But if they don’t go away in a week or are recurrent, it’s time you visited your doctor. One of the signs of oral cancer is sores on the mouth and gums that do not heal.

There’s no need to panic if you see these oral health symptoms. Most of the times, they are harmless. But if these problems persist, it’s best to consult a doctor at the earliest to rule out any possible health dangers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 20, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).