Dental Caries: Why You Need To Pay Attention To Your Dental Health

The teeth As little and not pronounced as they look can be a nightmare if not well taken care of.

About 2 billion people and 520 million children suffer from dental caries worldwide.

Dental caries is tagged as the commonest disease globally.

Before diving into the need to pay attention to your dental health let’s see what dental caries is all about.

DENTAL CARIES

It is also called Tooth decay or dental cavities

Dental Caries are damaged areas in the teeth that develop into holes( progresses from a tiny hole to a large one)  caused by the action of acid on tooth enamel due to bacterial activity. 

CAUSES

Dental Caries is caused by a combination of factors, which are;

1. Poor mouth hygiene.
2. Bacterial activity in the mouth.
3. High sugary food intake.

1. Poor Mouth Hygiene 

Brushing the teeth on daily basis using a good toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste and picking teeth keeps mouth bacteria in check and helps maintain tooth strength. The absence of these practices leads to tooth decay.

2. Bacterial Activity In The Mouth

Continuous intake of food and sugary contents without cleaning the mouth properly gives bacteria room to act on food particles changing the PH of the mouth from its normal alkaline nature to an acidic state. This acidic state causes the decay of tooth enamel.

3. High Sugary Food Intake

Intake of sugary foods like snacks, fruits, chocolates, and juices in high amounts invites bacteria to feast on them.

You can now see how this factor works hand in hand.

RISK FACTORS

Every individual is vulnerable to dental caries but certain individuals can be easily affected by dental caries they include;

1. Children and adolescents; this set of people love sugary foods.
2. Individuals with a Family history of dental caries
3. Individuals on a certain medication and certain disease conditions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of dental caries you should look out for are;

1. Bad breathe
2. Bleeding gum
3. Swollen face
4. Toothache
5. Difficulty in chewing
6. Toothache
7. Headache
8. Tooth sensitivity to hot/cold food or drinks.

N:B See your dentist if you notice any of these signs as soon as possible.

PREVENTION

Nothing beats preventing yourself from getting infected as it is easier, cheaper, and better than a cure.

Consider the preventive steps below;

1. Maintaining A Good Mouth Hygiene;

• Brush teeth judiciously, at least twice daily and preferably after every meal.
• Use toothpaste containing Fluoride. Fluoride is an essential mineral needed to maintain slide teeth.
• Pick teeth and remove food particles in between teeth.

2. Good Dieting;

• cut down the intake of sugary, starchy foods and drinks 
• Vitamin D and calcium is essential for strong bone and teeth, So consume food that contains them I.e milk and yogurt in moderation.

3. Go For Dental Checkups. Regular checkups help in the early detection of dental caries making its treatment easy and preventing it from getting worse.

4. Chew sugar-free gums. It prevents dry mouth by increasing the production of saliva.

COMPLICATIONS

 If a cavity is left untreated, it could result in the following complications:

1. Loose of a large portion of the tooth
2. Teeth abscess (pack of pus around the tooth)
3. Spread of infection throughout the body (septicemia)

WHY YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DENTAL HEALTH

1. To keep mouth bacteria from becoming harmful.
2. Early detection and treatment of dental caries and other dental diseases
3. To always have a brighter smile on.
4. To avoid the spread of infection to other body organs.

You can’t attain the above if you don’t pay attention to your dental health on daily basis.

CONCLUSION

With the above understanding, you would agree with me that maintaining good dental health contributes to your self-esteem and physical well-being.

It’s then expedient to keep the mouth in a good state by carrying out simple preventive measures.

The SNA health-writers are writing plugs you can trust. Reach us via [email protected].

REFERENCES

www.who.int

www.mayclinic.org

locustfamilydentistry.com

Images: www.google.com