How many times a day do you brush your teeth? How often you visit your dentist for check up? These are the questions we need to consider if we are concerned with our oral health. Do you know that a lot of bacterial floras are naturally living in our oral mucosa and if there is a disturbance in their environment, problems would occur including dental caries, etc. Dental caries is a destructive process in the tooth in which bacteria continuously increase in number and colonize the tooth surface by forming a plaque. If this plaque is not removed by brushing or by any other dental procedures, it would result into spontaneous decay of the tooth. Then, if the decay is left untreated this would lead into pulpitis wherein the decay has penetrated the deeper part of the tooth, the tooth pulp. Another oral health problem which is gingivitis or inflammation of the gums results into bleeding of gums upon brushing. Again, gingivitis starts with bacterial plaque and will result into a more destruction of the teeth if left untreated. Risk factors for the said diseases include poor oral hygiene, tobacco smoking and alcohol use. The food we eat also contributes into dental problems most especially those that are considered “sweet” foods like chocolates, candies, etc. This is because sweets are mainly carbohydrates or sugars that are converted into acids and dissolve the tooth’s surface. Therefore, always brush your teeth after eating so that bacteria will not multiply and invade the oral mucosa and cause tooth decay. Make a regular schedule with your dentist also because there are parts of the mouth that are not easily cleaned by brushing alone.
A smile can make someone else’s day so bright, hence, don’t let dental caries ruin your perfect smile.