Why Oral and Dental Health Must be Maintained?
The mouth and teeth are the initial parts of the body that receive food, fluids, and are also one of the organs involved in the digestive process. When a person consumes certain foods or drinks, before these two things are swallowed, the food and drink will first enter the mouth. Even if swallowed, there are still substances that settle in the mouth. Substances that settle may contain bacteria or dirt in it. If bacteria and dirt are allowed to settle, this can increase a person's risk of developing certain diseases or medical conditions.
In addition, teeth that function to chew food can also become a nest of dirt which eventually becomes plaque or caries. If the plaque is left, the dirt will eventually erode the enamel layer on the teeth. Excessive consumption of acidic drinks or liquids can also damage tooth enamel and erode it. These things are what make a person's teeth cavities or porous.
Teeth that are already damaged and a dirty mouth can cause many diseases and health problems. This is caused by the easy spread of bacteria, dirt, to parasites that can attack the mouth and teeth. Here are some examples of diseases and medical disorders that can arise if the mouth and teeth are not kept clean, including:
1. Bad breath (Halitosis)
Halitosis is bad breath that persists and doesn't go away, even if you eat candy, use mouthwash, or brush your teeth. Generally, halitosis is caused by tobacco consumption, food residue in the mouth that is not cleaned, dry mouth, dirty teeth, and the use of certain drugs.
2. Tooth Cavities
Cavities are damage to the hard tissues of the teeth caused by caries that cannot be prevented. Caries is formed due to bacteria that give rise to a black color. While the main cause is dirty teeth because you rarely brush your teeth and leave it to form plaque. The untreated plaque then turns into caries and causes cavities. In addition, cavities can be triggered by several other factors, such as consuming excessive sugary foods, dry mouth, suffering from certain eating disorders, and the use of drugs.
3. Tongue Cancer
Although the main cause of tongue cancer is gene mutation caused by smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Tongue cancer can also occur due to dental and oral factors that are not kept clean.
4. Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is a pathological cavity filled with pus caused by a mixed bacterial infection. Tooth abscess is an acute purulent infection that develops in the apical part of the tooth. This condition is usually caused by bacteria originating from infected teeth in both the maxilla and mandible.
5. Tartar
Tartar or dental calculus is a build-up of plaque and lime that reacts with saliva. The main cause of tartar is germs that eat food debris attached to the teeth and between the teeth. In addition, the acidity of the pH of saliva is also the cause of tartar appearing.
How to Maintain Oral and Dental Health
Hygiene is very important to pay attention to in order to maintain oral and dental health. The following are some steps that can be taken, including:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Avoiding or not smoking and chewing tobacco.
- Have regular check-ups with the dentist every six months.
- If you are taking certain medications, ask your doctor whether these drugs make your mouth dry or not.
- Look for signs of damage in the mouth, whether there are bleeding gums or canker sores that don't heal.
- Avoid or reduce consumption of foods and drinks with high sugar content. Sugar can form plaque if allowed to settle on teeth.
- Avoid and reduce hard, acidic, and cold foods because they can damage the lining of the teeth.
- Toothbrush must be considered because the bristles are worn out, can injure the gums and damage the lining of the teeth.
Maintaining oral and dental health is actually not too difficult to do if you are consistent. This is of course because prevention is better than cure. If there are symptoms or problems with the mouth and teeth, talk to your doctor immediately so that they can be treated immediately and do not cause complications or more serious symptoms.
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