(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
GLOBAL temperature will reach or exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 20 years.
That’s the conclusion of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released on Aug. 9, 2021.
Looking at the future, Dr. Donna M. Hackleyab of the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Office of Global and Community Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, sees challenges for oral health care.
“Climate change affects health, including oral health,” she writes in the June issue of the International Dental Journal.
“Dental care delivery systems must demonstrate resiliency to survive extreme weather events,” Dr. Hackleyab says.
She cites as example asthma cases that have increased dramatically because of more intense wildfire seasons, increased air pollution and other factors related to climate change and global warming.
Drugs often used to treat asthma include antihistamines that may cause dry mouth, a risk factor in tooth decay and gum disease.
Rising temperatures cause depletion of the ozone layer which functions to absorb the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of lip and skin cancers of the face, head and neck.
Heat and sunshine are associated with oral clefts.
Mental health also poses a major challenge to oral health issues during extreme climate events such as stress and anxiety.
Mental stress may cause orofacial pain related to the mouth and face.
Temporomandibular pain that affects the area connecting the jawbone to the skull may occur. Aphthous ulcers or canker sores that develop on the soft tissues of the mouth or at the base of the gums are possible. Gum lesions related to diseases of the immune system can happen.
Global warming may spread communicable diseases such as the Zika virus that may cause oral ulcers. Early lesions of dengue fever include bleeding gums or mucosal ulcers. Lyme disease may cause mouth and face pain.
All these underscore the importance of conducting a thorough medical history, regularly reviewing patient’s medications and meticulously conducting oral examinations to screen for pre-cancerous lesions, gum diseases, tooth decay and altered salivary flow, Dr. Hackleyab says.
Planning for the future includes using teledentistry or distance consultations for managing patients with oral pain or acute emergencies when offices are closed, she says.
Oral healthcare systems “should be reimagined” to address the susceptibility of vulnerable populations to climate change, Dr. Hackleyab says.
It is even time to reimagine the use of environmentally harmful materials to help slow down global warming, she continues.
Harmful materials related to oral health care include plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste, floss and mouthwash packaging and single use plastics, she says.
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(Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.)/PN
