Threats and Protection of Dental Diseases: Building a Solid Foundation

dental disease

Protect your teeth

Many of us may remember watching our grandfathers as children carefully remove their dentures-oddly shaped devices made of metal hooks, plastic teeth, and flesh-colored gums-every night before bed, then gently place them on a clean towel on the washstand. Noticing our astonished looks, grandfathers, often suffering from dental problems, would warn us: "Don't do what I did, child. You have no idea what it's like to be without teeth."

Fortunately, thanks to fluoride tinctures, various toothpastes, and good dental care equipment, today's younger generation rarely encounters situations where their parents had to wear dentures due to tooth loss. However, as our teeth become stronger and more durable, we face another problem.

"As living standards continue to improve, fewer elderly people are losing teeth, which means they have to invest more time and money in taking care of all their remaining teeth," said Ralph Burgess, director of the Centre for Dental Prevention at the Toronto School of Dental Medicine.

However, don't misunderstand Dr. Burgess's words; he doesn't mean it's better to lose all your teeth than to spend a fortune on dental care. In fact, losing teeth is indeed a very troublesome thing, and not just because dentures are clumsy and embarrassing. According to Joe M. Burgesskin, a consultant dentist with the American Dental Association and a private dentist in Oakland, California, many elderly people are unable to eat certain nutritious foods because they have lost all their teeth, which has already negatively impacted their health. Dr. Burgesskin says, "Admittedly, if we wanted to keep our teeth indefinitely, the cost of dental care and other beneficial measures for dental health would inevitably increase. However, what is that expense compared to the pain of losing teeth?"

Threats to teeth

For our teeth, the two most dangerous enemies are vena cava and gingivitis, both caused by dental plaque. Dental plaque is a sticky residue formed on teeth and gums by bacteria that live in the moist mouth and feed on tiny food particles left on teeth or gums after eating.

By brushing your teeth thoroughly, you can kill these germs by depriving them of food. Richard Bryce, a dental expert at Boston University and a consultant to the American Dental Association, says, "A toothbrush removes food particles that remain on your teeth. It's best to brush your teeth immediately after meals because the shorter the time germs spend using food debris, the less damage they cause to your teeth."

According to Barry Dele, an orthodontist in New Jersey, children and teenagers are generally more prone to inflammation of the upper and sides of their teeth, while older adults often experience inflammation at the root of their teeth. Dr. Dele says that the process of filling decayed teeth has evolved significantly, especially with the use of porcelain resin fillers, which has provided dentists with an effective filling material in addition to the traditional gold and silver fillers. He says that this new type of resin filler can release trace amounts of fluoride to prevent teeth from decaying again.

Tooth wear

Dr. Dele says another common problem with adult teeth is that the fillings inside teeth need to be replaced due to constant wear. He says, "The temperature inside your mouth can experience four seasons in a single day, from eating ice cream to drinking hot coffee. We all know how temperature changes inside a car engine can negatively affect its performance; the same principle applies to damaged teeth. If you pay attention, you'll notice that when the inside of a tooth is damaged, it becomes extremely sensitive to the temperature of food and to tastes like salt, sour, and sweet."

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• Prevalence: 4% of working men in the United States aged 40 to 44 already wear dentures, while the rate is as high as 16% among men aged 55 to 59.

• Causative factors: poor oral hygiene, genetics, or psychological stress.

• Affected age groups: Dental problems affect people of all ages. Dental problems are directly related to time, not age. In other words, if you neglect oral hygiene for a long time, you are more likely to suffer from dental diseases.

• Gender differences: Men and women are equally likely to suffer from dental problems, but men visit the dentist far less frequently than women, so their dental problems are often overlooked in the early stages.

• Request for help: Dentist.

Like the fillings inside teeth, teeth themselves can become loose and soft over time due to wear and tear, meaning that cavities are likely to appear in your teeth as you age. According to Dr. Bryce, this is partly due to stress: when people are under a lot of pressure, they tend to clench their teeth, and teeth that are already worn down are more prone to developing hairline cracks under pressure. You might simply feel that your teeth are becoming more sensitive to cold temperatures and experience occasional slight pain when chewing.

To have healthy teeth, you must do what you did when you were a child under your parents' supervision: brush your teeth at least twice a day and see a dentist at least twice a year. Dr. Bryce reminds us, "Don't ignore the most basic dental care knowledge; it's this knowledge that will help you take care of your teeth." Here are some basic dental care tips.

Choosing the right toothbrush: In recent years, almost every toothbrush manufacturer has developed improved toothbrushes. Some of these toothbrushes have wavy bristles to make it easier to remove food debris between teeth; some have spherical bristles at an angle to the handle so that they can easily reach the molars; and some have movable handles to avoid excessive pressure on the teeth and gums when brushing.

The purpose of developing these new toothbrushes is, of course, to better clean teeth and prevent diseases such as vena cava and gingivitis. According to a journal published by the American Dental Association, some research results suggest that these new toothbrushes may be significantly better than older models in terms of performance and usability, but further long-term testing and research are needed to draw final conclusions. Furthermore, the journal adds that some dentists believe that older toothbrushes, if used properly, can be just as effective at cleaning teeth, with results no less than those of newer models. Ultimately, regardless of the type of toothbrush used, finding one that suits your individual needs is the most important factor.

Ensuring sufficient brushing time is crucial. Research shows that most of us brush for only 51 seconds each time, which is far from enough for thorough cleaning. At least 150 seconds are needed to be effective. Dr. Bryce says, "One of the essential items in your bathroom should be a timer, preferably an electronic one that beeps every three minutes."

Do men who consistently use dental floss enjoy flossing? Regarding this question, Christine Dumos, a consultant at the American Dental Association, says, "Men generally consider flossing a woman's prerogative and therefore dismiss it as a method of oral hygiene." However, many dentists believe that dental floss is even more protective of teeth than regular brushing. Dr. Dumos recommends a one-month training program, saying, "It takes about 28 days for people to form a habit, so if you can consistently use dental floss for a month, you can develop this good habit."

Just as new toothbrushes constantly appear on the market, various types of dental floss are also constantly emerging. Flavors, shapes, and textures have all been updated, and even the floss holders are much more convenient than the old-fashioned ones. Dentists say that some frequent flossers may find wax-coated floss less prone to tearing than uncoated floss, but the important thing is not which type of floss you use, but rather choosing the one that you find most convenient. Because once you start using dental floss, you'll be dealing with it frequently.

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Toothbrushes first appeared in China in 1498. Initially, the bristles were made from pig hair, and later, hair from animals such as horses and even badgers was used. In 1938, DuPont in the United States first produced nylon bristles. Compared to animal hair, these bristles were cheaper and more hygienic.

Most dentists believe that rinsing your mouth before bed is sufficient if you follow the basics of dental care. However, some dentists, including Dr. Dumos, strongly advocate for cleaning your mouth with a fluoride solution before going to bed. Dr. Dumos says, "Rinsing with fluoride in addition to brushing your teeth daily can reduce the incidence of oral phlebitis by 40 percentage points."

Before using a mouth irrigator, it's important to thoroughly clean your teeth. A mouth irrigator is an instrument used to clean food particles by spraying water towards the gum line. However, many dentists believe that unless you first clean your teeth with fluoride solution, the irrigator is practically useless. Some dentists even believe that irrigators are not only ineffective but also harmful, as the water jet can potentially push food debris deep into the gums. Therefore, Dr. Dumos recommends thoroughly cleaning your teeth before using an irrigator. Dr. Bryce adds, "The water jet should be of moderate size; don't think of it as a fire hose. The purpose of an irrigator is to flush food debris off your teeth, not to splash it everywhere or even push it into harder-to-reach corners of your mouth."

Dr. Bryce says one way to avoid cavities in your teeth is to limit your intake of cold drinks, especially ice. He says, "A mix of hot and cold foods, such as hot tarts and iced cream, will only shorten the lifespan of your teeth." Foods that are too hot or too cold can cause enamel to shrink and crack, so it's best to avoid excessively cold or hot foods.