Oral problems have become one of the most common health problems in the world. According to the third epidemiological survey of oral diseases, the prevalence rate of oral diseases in China is as high as 97.6%, and the proportion of unhealthy teeth in adults is even higher, only 0.22% can fully meet the oral health standards! This also has a lot to do with our weak awareness of oral care.
Oral health is a part of general health, and oral diseases will also affect general health. For example, periodontal disease can cause cardiovascular diseases and digestive system diseases. Periodontal disease and diabetes have the same risk factors, which affect each other; The oral health of pregnant women will also affect newborns, and periodontal disease will lead to low birth weight premature infants. By preventing and treating oral diseases, especially periodontal diseases, the overall health level can be obviously improved.
Today, we will talk about oral health from the following four aspects:
First, the impact of oral health on health
Second, the list of common oral health problems
Third, the influencing factors of oral health problems
Fourth, how to maintain oral health for a long time
First, the impact of oral diseases on health
1. Effects of oral diseases on oral health
(1) Oral diseases can lead to toothache and tooth loss, which makes it difficult to chew food.
(2) Oral diseases will form unilateral chewing habits, which will easily lead to asymmetric facial development for a long time;
(3) Loss of dentition will cause physiological stimulation of masticatory function, and the normal development of jaw will also be affected, resulting in different facial weights;
(4) Unhealthy oral hygiene can also cause oral odor;
(5) Oral cancer is one of the six major cancers in the world. Oral cancer surgery is likely to face a terrible situation of facial disfigurement.
2. Effects of oral diseases on general health.
Friends who have hidden dangers in oral health are likely to face the threat of general health and further aggravate general diseases.
(1) heart disease
Pathogens of oral diseases and their toxins can invade the blood, aggravating or causing subacute infective endocarditis, coronary heart disease and other heart diseases. A large number of studies have confirmed that periodontitis is an independent risk factor for acute attack of coronary heart disease, which is significantly related to the total mortality.
(2) Respiratory diseases
Oral diseases are closely related to aspiration pneumonia caused by various reasons. According to relevant statistics, 80% of the causes of pneumonia are bacterial secretions inhaled by humans in the mouth and throat, and most of these secretions actually come from the inside of the mouth.
(3) Diabetes
A large number of studies show that diabetes and periodontal disease have the same risk factors and are high-risk factors for each other.
Studies have shown that diabetic patients are often complicated with different degrees of oral diseases. In the diabetic population, the incidence of periodontal disease is high, and the lesions are seriously damaged and progress faster. At the same time, the blood sugar control of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with severe periodontitis is obviously more difficult than that of patients without periodontal disease.
(4) Gastrointestinal diseases
Diseases such as peptic ulcer are caused by Helicobacter pylori. There are a lot of Helicobacter pylori in our mouth. It is easy to use drugs to remove the relevant flora in the gastrointestinal tract, but it is difficult to remove Helicobacter pylori from dental plaque, which is easy to form a bacterial bank.
(5) Cerebrovascular diseases
Periodontal disease is related to carotid plaque thickening, which is a measure of atherosclerosis, indicating that the related mechanism of periodontal disease and carotid plaque thickening is actually the influence on atherosclerosis. Periodontitis, as a risk factor of stroke, is greater than smoking and independent of other known risk factors. It is reported that 25% of stroke patients have oral infection, while the control group has only 2.5%.
(6) Effects on pregnant women and fetuses
Today's research has proved that periodontal disease is one of the risk factors leading to the birth of low birth weight babies. The risk rate of premature delivery and low birth weight of pregnant women with severe periodontitis is 7.5 times that of normal pregnant women, which is greater than the influence of smoking and drinking on low birth weight infants.
Second, the list of common oral health problems
Most people don't care too much about their oral health problems in their daily lives. Only when there are corresponding symptoms, such as gum bleeding and oral ulcer, will they pay attention to whether there is a problem with our oral health.
These symptoms are actually symptoms of oral diseases, indicating that there has been a problem with oral health. What are our common oral health problems?
1, dental caries
Dental caries is commonly known as worm teeth and tooth decay. The formation of dental caries is complicated and influenced by many factors. There are all kinds of bacteria in our mouths. Some bacteria attach to teeth and form dental plaque. After eating food, if we don't clean our mouth in time, these dental plaques will ferment food residues, produce acidic substances and corrode our teeth. Over time, if it is left unchecked, it will form tooth decay, which will seriously lead to tooth loss, affect the digestive function of the body and cause other health problems.
If dental caries are not treated in time, it will cause damage to dental pulp, periapical tissue, jaw and adjacent tissues, form chronic periapical periodontitis, and may also cause odontogenic infection of the whole body organs as the focus.
2. Dental calculus
Dental calculus is mineralized plaque and teeth deposited on the surface of teeth, which are closely attached to teeth. Generally, you can't brush your teeth. You must scrape them off with an instrument. According to the position and nature of dental calculus, it can be divided into supragingival dental calculus and subgingival dental calculus.
The supragingival calculus is located on the tooth surface above the gingival margin and can be directly seen by the naked eye. Generally, it is large in volume, loose in texture and yellow or grayish white. It can also be deepened by smoking or pigment deposition, which is more deposited near the gums, especially at the opening of the duct of the large salivary gland. This is because the main source of inorganic salts in supragingival calculus is mineral salts such as calcium and phosphorus in saliva, which is similar to the formation of scale. Where there are salivary glands, there is abundant saliva, which is prone to stones.
Subgingival calculus is located on the root surface of gingival pocket or periodontal pocket below gingival margin. It can't be seen directly by the naked eye, so it must be seen through special tools. It is small and hard, and it is firmly attached.
3. Dentin allergy
Dentin hypersensitivity refers to gum pain caused by tooth surface or gingival tissue wear. The most common causes of adult dentin hypersensitivity are gingival inflammation caused by calculus, gingival recession and partial exposure of root. Due to the lack or loss of enamel protection of root, thousands of tiny pores will appear on teeth, exposing the central nervous system (pulp) of teeth. Dentin is very sensitive to the outside world. At this time, if you encounter external stimuli such as cold, sweet and sour or friction, it will quickly spread to the pulp through dentinal tubules, causing pain.
4, dental plaque
Plaque refers to the existence of microorganisms and bacteria attached to the surface of teeth, between teeth, and repairing the surface of teeth, and is also the precursor of tartar. Plaque adheres to the teeth very closely, just like a film, which can only be removed by brushing your teeth.
The oral cavity itself is the living environment for all kinds of microorganisms and bacteria, and the dental plaque will re-form on the tooth surface after being removed. Dental plaque is the initial factor of periodontal disease and the main pathogenic factor of periodontal disease.
5, bleeding gums
When you brush your teeth, your gums always bleed, and sometimes even when you touch them lightly. This is because there is inflammation around your teeth. Periodontitis is mostly caused by dirt or superfluous things around teeth, such as dental plaque, tartar or other fillings, which can stimulate the gums at any time, make the gums bloodshot and red, and it is very easy to bleed, especially for teenagers and pregnant women whose hormone levels change greatly. Through periodontal treatment or removal of local stimulating factors, gingival bleeding can be obviously relieved and finally the bleeding disappears.
6, oral ulcer
Oral ulcer, also known as aphtha, is a superficial ulcer that occurs on the oral mucosa. From rice grains to soybeans, it can be round or oval in size. The ulcer surface is sunken, and there is congestion around the oral ulcer, which can cause pain due to irritating food. It usually heals itself in a week or two. Oral ulcers are recurrent. 95% of oral ulcers are caused by viruses.
7. bad breath
Bad breath can be divided into oral bad breath and non-oral bad breath. Oral halitosis is usually related to poor oral hygiene, such as dental caries, residual crowns and roots in the mouth. If it is not treated, it will easily lead to the accumulation of food residues and the growth of bacteria. Dental calculus on the surface of teeth leads to gingivitis and periodontitis, or oral mucosal diseases. Wearing a bad prosthesis can easily lead to the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
Especially anaerobic bacteria, it will decompose to produce sulfide, causing bad breath. Non-oral halitosis is usually related to other systemic diseases, such as respiratory diseases and gastrointestinal dyspepsia.
Third, the influencing factors of oral health problems
1, food choice
"Food is the most important thing for the people", and diet plays an important role in China's traditional customs. Festival-specific food and eight cuisines bring people rich taste and corresponding oral problems. For example, if you like to eat spicy and hot eating habits, the oral mucosa is easily stimulated and damaged, leading to ulcers and bad breath, and even aggravating gum inflammation, redness, bleeding and swelling. For another example, some people like sweets, sugary foods, drinks, carbonated drinks and so on. It is easy to cause dental caries, acid erosion and other oral diseases and problems.
2. Bad eating habits
In modern society, young people often stay up late to eat midnight snack. Spicy crayfish and barbecue have become the most popular hobbies in midnight snack. In addition, there is no time to maintain oral hygiene, whether it is teeth or mucous membranes, the problems caused by this food residue will be more obvious.
3. Unhealthy lifestyle
Some lifestyles are also bad for oral health. For example, office workers are too busy with their work and their lives are irregular, which often leads to oral problems, such as unbearable pain, swelling, abscess and other oral emergencies. At the same time, smoking, drinking and heavy work pressure are also constantly endangering oral health and general health.
4. Improper cleaning of oral bacteria
The oral environment is full of all kinds of bacteria, and the body also has a tool to remove bacteria-saliva. Saliva has been secreted. For bacteria, saliva is a tsunami, which is easily washed away, enters the esophagus and stomach, and is finally eliminated by gastric acid.
However, there are still some bacteria firmly attached to the tooth surface by forming dental plaque, which avoids the fate of being eliminated. If dental plaque cannot be removed in time, it will slowly begin to corrode the tooth surface, eventually leading to tooth decay.
Dental plaque goes through three stages from formation to maturity. After understanding, we can know that cleaning dental plaque in time is very important for maintaining oral health:
First of all, the nutrients in saliva are adsorbed on the surface of teeth, forming a fertile "soil" for all kinds of bacteria to survive. This process can be formed in a few minutes on the freshly cleaned tooth surface, and it will thicken rapidly in 1-2 hours. After the formation of "soil", it can attract bacteria to settle down and provide nutrition for bacteria, that is, bacteria adhere and gather. First, pioneer bacteria will settle down, reclaim the soil and establish the infrastructure of the community, and then more other bacteria will be attracted to settle down, and a "new community" will be born.
If there is no man-made destruction, it will soon develop into a "mature community", that is, the patch is mature. Many bacteria gather together to provide nutrients to each other and absorb nutrients from saliva at the same time. Bacteria multiply in large numbers, and the "community" structure is more compact, which can resist external interference and cannot be removed by gargling. Generally, it can develop into a complex and mature "community" with various bacteria in 9 days.
Dental plaque cannot be washed away by saliva, but it can be removed by tools such as toothbrush and dental floss. This is why you should brush your teeth every day. Even if you don't eat at night, you should brush your teeth in the morning. Because dental plaque is formed at any time, brushing teeth is to remove dental plaque and prevent dental plaque from corroding our teeth.
Therefore, in order to maintain oral health, bacteria in the oral cavity, especially dental plaque, must be cleaned up promptly and correctly. It is necessary to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.
Fourth, how to maintain oral health for a long time?
1, pay attention to daily life style
Avoid choosing foods that will damage the soft and hard tissues of the mouth, such as foods that are too spicy and hot, foods with high sugar content, foods that are too delicate, sugary drinks, carbonated drinks, etc. Develop good oral hygiene habits, pay attention to your oral health, pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse your mouth after eating, and floss your teeth at least once a day. If you have oral problems, such as oral mucosal damage and gum problems, you can choose a toothpaste that can relieve gingival bleeding and swelling and repair mucosal damage, such as Yunnan Baiyao toothpaste; Develop good living habits, go to bed early and get up early, don't stay up late and eat less snacks.
In order to prevent dental caries and avoid or reduce the intake of sugar, acid and sticky food:
Sugar-containing foods and various bacteria in the mouth will transform the sugar in food residues into acidic substances, which will gradually corrode the enamel on the tooth surface and form dental caries.
Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits, although rich in nutrients, may also damage enamel. It is best not to eat alone, or rinse your mouth or brush your teeth in time after eating, so as to avoid acid corrosion of enamel and the formation of dental caries.
Sweet food is easy to stick to teeth, such as chocolate, toffee, toffee or preserves, raisins, etc., which are very easy to stick to teeth. If you don't brush your teeth in time, it will provide a natural hotbed for bacterial growth and it is very easy to form dental caries. Fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears and celery have a refreshing taste and help to remove dental plaque. In the process of chewing, it promotes saliva secretion, thus neutralizing the acid pollution caused by bacteria in the mouth. However, apples also contain acids that corrode teeth. Better rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after eating.
2. Use the correct way to brush your teeth.
2. 1 Toothpaste selection
Toothpaste is an auxiliary preparation for brushing teeth, which can enhance the friction of brushing teeth, strengthen the role of removing dental plaque and make teeth clean and beautiful. The fragrance in toothpaste can also refresh the mouth and reduce bad breath. Fluorine-containing toothpaste has a clear function of preventing dental caries, and its wide application in the world is one of the main reasons for the sharp decline in the incidence of dental caries. However, it should be noted that toothpaste is not a medicine, it can only prevent oral diseases or relieve symptoms, but can't treat oral diseases. If you have oral diseases, you should seek medical advice promptly.
2.2 Method of brushing teeth
Step 1: Brush the outer surface of the teeth first.
Place the toothbrush head at an angle of 45 with the tooth surface, and gently press it at the junction of teeth and gums.
Brush back and forth gently in a small arc, with the upper row of teeth brushing downwards and the lower row of teeth brushing upwards to ensure that the surface of each tooth can be brushed, and pay attention to brushing the gums lightly;
Step 2: Brush the back of teeth.
The toothbrush is placed upright at a 45-degree angle, with the upper row of teeth downward and the lower row of teeth upward, and lightly brushed;
Step 3: Brush the occlusal surface of the teeth.
Tilt the toothbrush perpendicular to the occlusal surface and brush it back and forth with moderate force. It is recommended to choose a healthy toothbrush. The dynamic bristles of the health toothbrush can play a unique role in cleaning the gap between the tooth surface and the teeth. The flexible and slender brush head makes the hard-to-reach posterior molars clean.
Step 4: Brush the inside of the teeth.
The inner surface of teeth is the easiest place to hide dirt and shelter evil people, and it is also the most difficult place to brush. When brushing the inner surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, the toothbrush should be erected, and the bristles at the front end of the toothbrush should be brushed up and down along the teeth, with a small arc.
Step 5: Brush the surface of your tongue lightly.
Gently remove food residues and bacteria from the inside out to keep your breath fresh.
2.3 Use dental floss and mouthwash
Simply brushing your teeth can't completely clean your teeth, because bacteria and soft dirt are most likely to stay between your teeth. When brushing teeth, the toothbrush bristles can't completely extend into the interdental space, leaving a clean "blind area". Scientific research has confirmed that thorough and effective brushing can only remove about 70% of dental plaque, so it is necessary to use oral cleaning tools other than toothbrushes.
Floss can effectively clean the position that toothbrush bristles can't reach, which is suitable for most people. There is evidence that if you brush your teeth with dental floss or interdental brush every day, you can effectively reduce gingival inflammation. It is recommended to floss at least 1 time every day. It is recommended that you use a dental floss stick, and switch to fluoride dental floss after proficiency. Middle-aged and elderly people have large teeth and sparse teeth, so it is more suitable to use interdental brush.
Gargling is a way to clean your mouth. The main principle is to use the impact of liquid flowing in the mouth to remove food residues, but gargling can not remove dental plaque.
Some pharmaceutical ingredients are added to the mouthwash, which is called mouthwash. Mouthwash can reduce the formation of dental plaque and play a certain role in reducing the occurrence of dental caries and periodontal disease.
3. Regular oral examination.
Of course, all of the above are needed to protect oral health in our daily life. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are chronic oral diseases. If you wait until you feel unwell before going to see a doctor, the difficulty of treatment will increase.
Regular oral examination every year, timely detection of oral diseases and timely treatment are our recommended methods. It also helps doctors to take measures to prevent and control the development of oral diseases according to the situation.
Ok, that's all for today's sharing. I hope our sharing can help your oral health. I hope everyone can realize the importance of oral health. Whether oral diseases or oral symptoms can be prevented and controlled. If we have good habits and behaviors, proper diet, regular life and pay attention to oral health, we can nip in the bud.
A healthy lifestyle starts with keeping your mouth healthy. I wish all my friends have white teeth and can always smile with confidence.