Despite the active development of the dental industry, including in the field of prevention of dental diseases, caries (according to the World Health Organization) is still one of the most common medical problems. Caries is diagnosed in 95-97% of people from a very young age.
What is the reason for this level of morbidity? Why, with all the variety of preventive measures and educational work, it is not always possible to prevent carious lesions of the teeth? Let’s figure it out.
Why caries develops
Scientists have proven that the main cause of caries is bacteria that feed on carbohydrate residues from food, the waste products of which form plaque. These microorganisms are not part of the original composition of the microflora of the oral cavity, but once they enter the oral cavity, they settle in it forever. Most often, parents become a source of transmission of bacteria that cause the development of caries to their children. The peculiarity of these bacteria is that they may not manifest themselves in the body for a long time, however, in the presence of certain factors, they begin to multiply rapidly and affect the teeth.
Experts identify several factors that increase the risk of caries. These include:
- Deep fissures (grooves on the chewing surface of the teeth). Being the place of the greatest accumulation of plaque, they are subject to active destruction by bacteria.
- Dental crowding and malocclusion. The close arrangement of the teeth relative to each other makes it difficult to properly clean the contact surfaces, so they are often affected by caries.
- Age. Due to the structure of the enamel, milk teeth are at a greater risk of developing caries than permanent teeth.
- Occupational hazards. For example, workers in the chemical industry have a high level of dental caries.
- Habitat. In areas with sufficient levels of fluoride in drinking water, the detection of damage to the hard tissues of the teeth is lower.
Bad habits and caries
In addition to the above factors, some bad habits also lead to the development of caries, getting rid of which is a task that everyone can do.
Habit number 1 – snacking on sweets.
Children and some adults snack between meals. As a rule, sweet, allowing you to quickly make up for the lack of energy. It is sweets that usually become provocateurs of caries. The situation is aggravated by the fact that after eating sweets during the day, a full brushing of the teeth is not carried out. Therefore, experts do not recommend giving children sweets, cookies, lollipops as a snack. It is more useful to replace them with fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese.
Habit number 2 – drinks at night.
Drinking juices, milk, cocktails before bedtime is fraught with a change in the level of acidity in the oral cavity. Sugars and acids that enter the mouth with these drinks are a favorable environment for the development and reproduction of bacteria that cause caries. It should be taken as a rule: to quench your thirst before going to bed or at night, use clean water. If you drank something sweet before going to bed, be sure to brush your teeth.
Habit number 3 – irregular visits to the dentist.
Both adults and children are advised to visit the dentist every six months. Skipping even a couple of preventive visits can turn into sad consequences. The dentist not only treats teeth, but also carries out preventive professional cleaning of teeth, teaches the rules of home oral care. Such simple measures help prevent the development of carious lesions of the teeth or identify and cure them at an early stage.
Getting rid of the above habits is an easy and affordable way for everyone to maintain oral health. Therefore, children should be taught daily dental care from an early age. The sooner these skills develop, the easier it is to keep your teeth healthy for years to come.