As the saying goes, "A toothache is not fatal, but it hurts excruciatingly." "Among the many organs in the human body, teeth are often the most overlooked. Many people don't pay attention to their oral health until they have unbearable toothache. According to the results of the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey, the proportion of periodontal health among Chinese adults is only 91%。In other words, more than 1 billion Chinese people have periodontal problems of varying degrees, and less than 1% actually meet dental health standards. In addition, the prevalence of tooth decay in permanent teeth in 12-year-olds was 345%, an increase of 7 from a decade ago8 percentage points; The prevalence of tooth decay in deciduous teeth in 5-year-olds is as high as 709%, up 5 percent from a decade ago8 percentage points; These data show that tooth decay in children is getting worse.
From bleeding gums to severe pain, these are all warning signs that teeth are sending us. Dental problems can not only lead to the destruction of the teeth themselves, but can also affect overall health. Therefore, paying attention to oral health and paying attention to the condition of your teeth is what everyone should do.
The impact of oral health on overall health cannot be ignored. Of these, caries (tooth decay) and periodontal disease are two of the most prevalent oral diseases, both of which can lead to tooth loss. Tooth decay is not only one of the main causes of tooth loss, but if left unchecked**, it can evolve into a chronic apical abscess or even form an infectious lesion that further affects other parts of the body. For example, an oral infection can lead to arthritis, endocarditis, or nephritis. In addition, studies have found that certain eye diseases and ** disease conditions have improved after dealing with oral infections.
Periodontal disease is more common, especially in middle-aged and elderly people, but there are also adolescent patients. This disease not only affects the stability of teeth, but also may increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and even have an association with stomach problems. Studies have shown that the oral cavity is an important storage site for Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that has been linked to stomach ulcers and stomach cancer. As a result, periodontal disease may be a more common condition in patients with gastric ulcers.
Periodontal disease is not limited to the effects in the mouth, it can also be a trigger for other diseases such as arthritis, iridocyclitis or nephritis. Long-term periodontitis may lead to persistent halitosis and pus discharge, which can seriously affect the patient's social life and work. It is important to note that chronic periodontal disease may also affect diabetes control, increase susceptibility to infection, and impair the body's immune response. In addition, there is a clear association between periodontal disease and heart disease. Studies have found that patients with periodontal disease have twice the risk of coronary heart disease compared with healthy people, and this risk is as high as 30% if accompanied by alveolar bone loss.
Finally, periodontal disease can also affect the health of pregnant women, with studies showing that pregnant women with severe periodontal disease have a sevenfold increased risk of giving birth to preterm low birth weight babies. Therefore, maintaining oral health is essential to overall health and should not be overlooked.
First and foremost, observing the color of your gums is an important step in assessing your oral health. Normal, healthy gums usually have a pale pink color. Conversely, if your gums are bright red or dark red, it can be a sign of gum inflammation, a condition that can lead to the risk of loose teeth or even tooth loss. Normally, healthy gums wrap tightly around your teeth. However, if the gums are congested and inflamed for a long time, they may gradually recede, forming what is known as a "periodontal pocket". These pouch-like structures are prone to the accumulation of food debris and bacteria, and long-term neglect of this condition can lead to deterioration and damage to the alveolar bone, eventually leading to loosening and loss of teeth.
Secondly, it is also key to check the surface of the teeth for small black spots. Tooth decay is a common dental disease, and its early signs are usually black spots or lines in the pits or crevices of the teeth. Although these small black dots may seem insignificant and may not cause any discomfort at first, they have actually begun to erode tooth enamel, a condition known as shallow caries. If the tooth decay progresses further and invades the dentin, it will turn into medium caries, at which point the tooth will become sensitive and sensitive to hot and cold stimuli. More seriously, if the tooth decay penetrates deep into the pulp, damaging the blood vessels, lymphatic system and nerves inside the tooth, it can cause severe pain. Eventually, tooth decay may progress to the root of the tooth, resulting in periapical disease, at which point the tooth is often beyond salvage.