Dental health issues are the leading cause of preventable hospital admissions in Tasmania, and are linked to a number of diseases, including diabetes.
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In a survey conducted by The Examiner, health groups and experts said Tasmanian needed more dental disease prevention.
University of Tasmania Associate Professor of oral health Len Crocombe said oral health issues were the number three cause of preventable hospital admissions around the country, “but it’s number one in Tasmania”.
“Tasmanians are sicker, poorer and older than people on the mainland, and that goes true to oral health in adults,” he said.
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Associate Professor Crocombe said links between oral health and general health were being found “more and more”.
“The strongest one is with diabetes. If you have your gums treated, your blood sugar level improves, if you have your blood sugar treated, your gum disease gets better.
“As your mouth is part of your body, if it’s falling apart then it has a direct association with the rest of your body, and vice versa.”
The Australian Medical Association, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Healthy Tasmania said the state needed more government-led dental disease prevention.
“Tasmania has a shocking state of dental care, generally,” AMA Tasmania president Dr Stuart Day said.
“Schools are where there should be campaigns to teach children about oral hygiene that includes the whole family and encourages parents to take their children to see a dentist.”
RFDS Federation chief executive Martin Laverty said oral health-related preventable hospitalisations cost the state more than $8 million a year.
“Further, cardiovascular disease, rheumatic fever, kidney disease and other chronic illnesses are exacerbated by poor oral health.
“Providing access to dentists for those with or at risk of chronic illness helps manage the heart and other life limiting illnesses.”
Healthy Tasmania’s Lucy Byrne said oral health was particularly prevalent in rural communities. “The RFDS has been doing some great work in this area already, but more is needed,” she said.
Associate Professor Crocombe said the best thing people could do was brush their teeth twice a day with flouride toothpaste.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government had reduced the waiting list for adult general dental care by more than 30 per cent and provided more than 60,000 occasions of service to children each year through Oral Health Services.
Labor, in its health policy, announced funding for Oral Health Services to work in partnership with the RFDS to reach people who were not accessing dental services.
