City doctors tell us how to maintain those pearly whites and why is it very important to keep them clean and strong
Oral Care (Photo: AFP)
Hyderabad: President Pranab Mukherjee, speaking at the inauguration of the FDI Annual World Dental Congress, brought to fore the underlying threat of oral diseases to public health and how a good majority of people fail to understand the importance of oral health.
Changing lifestyles, with food habits that have junk food, sticky food, less intake of water and consumption of alcohol and tobacco, have a bad impact on oral health and thus general health suffers.
The President explained that the standards of oral and dental health in the subcontinent were very low and proper education is required to deal with these preventable diseases.
Earlier, oral diseases and tooth decay were considered part of ageing process but now a large number of children, teenagers and middle-aged adults suffer from oral problems. The increasing numbers show that there is a strong need to follow good practices of oral hygiene which will also improve the general health.
Gum diseases affect immunity:
To understand how oral health can affect the body, it is important to understand what can go wrong in the first place. Any disease begins with the build-up of bacteria. In the mouth, bacteria builds up in the teeth making the gums prone to infection.
When the infection begins, the immune system moves in to attack the infection and the gums become inflamed. The inflammation continues unless the infection is brought under control. Over time, the inflammation and the chemicals it releases, eat away at the gums and bone structure that hold the teeth in place. Later, the rest of the body gets affected.
Dr M. Prasad, consultant prosthodontist, implantalogist at Kims Hospital explains the havoc that gum disease can cause” “The type of bacteria found in gum disease is very toxic and these organisms have direct access to the blood stream. It has a devastating effect on the immune system. And if it reoccurs immune system becomes weak.”
Tips for a good dental health:
Drink plenty of water.
Eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean sources of proteins like skinless poultry, fish, dry beans, peas and other legumes.
Opt for low-fat and fat-free dairy foods.
Limit the number of snacks you eat.
Avoid sticky foods like candy.
Rinse mouth with plain water after eating chocolates.
Do not sip soda or fruit juices for a long time as the prolonged exposure to sugar and acid harms the teeth.
Brush teeth twice a day and floss daily.
Eat citrus fruits, like orange, kiwi, lemon and grapefruit which are good sources of vitamin C for healthy gums.
Do not over-consume citrus as it is high in enamel-damaging acid which damages the teeth.
( Source : dc )
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