Oral Health and Climate Change Adapt to climate change and protect oral health

Mondo Science Updated on 2024-01-19

Healthy Dental Care Tips

As climate change intensifies, our lives, our health and the environment will all face challenges. Oral health, as an important part of human health, is also affected by climate change. This article will combine the theories of traditional Chinese medicine and ancient and modern prescriptions to provide you with the relationship between oral health and climate change, and provide suggestions for adapting to climate change and protecting oral health.

1.The impact of climate change on oral health.

Factors such as rising temperatures, changes in humidity, and dry climates caused by climate change have a direct impact on human oral health. First of all, the rise in temperature makes it difficult to excrete moisture in the human body, which can easily lead to dry mouth and oral mucosa, increasing the risk of oral inflammation and infection. Secondly, humidity changes have an impact on the growth and reproduction of oral bacteria, increasing the incidence of dental caries and periodontal disease. Thirdly, dry climate will lead to accelerated desquamation of the oral mucosa, damage to oral tissues, and easy to cause problems such as aphthous ulcers and angular cheilitis.

2.Understanding of oral health in TCM theory.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the oral health of the human body is closely related to the function of the spleen and stomach, and whether the fluid is sufficient. The spleen and stomach are the foundation of nurture, if the spleen and stomach function is not good, and the fluid is not sufficient, it is easy to cause various oral problems. Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on balancing the yin, yang, qi and blood in the human body, and strengthens the function of the spleen and stomach by adjusting diet, daily life and medications**, and maintains the balance of fluid to protect oral health.

3.Ancient and modern prescriptions to protect oral health.

3.1 Yuzhu boil water.

Boiling water is one of the traditional Chinese medicine health preservation methods, which has a unique role in protecting oral health. After boiling the jade bamboo with an appropriate amount of water, take out the jade bamboo and rinse the mouth with warm water every day, which can moisten the mouth and nourish the gums.

3.2 North sand cucumber porridge.

Beisha ginseng is a herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, and the ingredients it contains such as ginsenosides have the effect of protecting oral health. Cook an appropriate amount of northern sand cucumber with rice to make porridge, and eat it often to moisten the lungs, keep the mouth moist, and prevent the occurrence of dry mouth and oral problems.

4.Recommendations for adapting to climate change and protecting oral health.

4.1 Eat a balanced diet.

Maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and increasing your intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and fibre can help improve the oral resistance and prevent oral inflammation and infection.

4.2 Keep your mouth clean.

Keep your mouth clean and healthy by brushing your teeth regularly, using fluoride toothpaste, and using dental floss or flossing sticks daily to clean food debris between your teeth.

4.3 Increase water intake appropriately.

Drink a moderate amount of water every day to keep the oral mucosa moist and reduce the occurrence of dry mouth.

4.4 Avoid overeating.

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and reduce your intake of tobacco and caffeine, which can negatively affect oral health.

References: 1 zheng, h., jin, y., liu, l., zhao, w. (2020). the potential impact of climate change on oral health. journal of dental research, 99(9), 977-978.

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