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Theme 9
ORAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Good oral health is important not only for our appearance but also
for our overall health. Cavities and gum diseases may influence many
serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory
diseases, etc. Untreated cavities can also be painful and lead to serious
infections. Proper oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth
and teeth clean in order to prevent dental problems and bad breath.
Good oral health should be a priority at all life stages, in order to keep
the teeth till old age. Smoking is a major risk factor for oral and dental
disease; it may cause oral cavity cancer.
There are 5 steps to keep oral health:
•
see your dentist regularly; some precancerous lesions often are
detected by dentist when the patient comes for check up.
•
clean your teeth twice a day. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and
fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria causing
cavities, periodontal and gum diseases. Fluoride makes the
surface of teeth more resistant to acids during the process of
demineralization. The use of dental floss is an important element
of the oral hygiene, since it removes the plaque between teeth.
Make flossing your habit and do it regularly.
•
eat a well-balanced diet. Healthy food is good for your general
health and your oral health. Bread and cereals are rich in vitamin
B while fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, both of which
contribute to healthy gum tissue. Lean meat, fish, and poultry
provide magnesium and zinc for teeth. Drink fluoridated water.
•
check your mouth regularly. Be aware of warning signs of
periodontal disease. Gum disease is one of the main reasons why
adults lose their teeth.
•
don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
Dental caries is another name for tooth decay where bacterial
infection affects the hard outer layer lining of the teeth which consists of
enamel, cementum and dentin. The bacteria live in plaque and break
down sugars from diet to produce acid. Diagnosis for tooth caries is quite
simple. Less obvious decays can only be detected by an X-ray test. The