According to the World He alth Organization, between 60 and 90% of all schoolchildren in the world have tooth decay. According to a study by a team of dentists, 80% of Bulgarian students have caries. "The fact that 5-year-old Bulgarians have an average of 4-5 teeth with caries, and 12-year-olds have an average of 3-4 permanent teeth is worrying. Some parents underestimate the oral hygiene of baby teeth, thinking that they are temporary, but they are not aware that the complications of caries on the baby teeth can affect the follicle of the permanent teeth and endanger their he alth", comments for in. "Dr.” dentist Dr. Ventsislav Stoev from the Association of Bulgarian Dentists
Are Bulgarians' teeth he althy, Dr. Stoev?
- When it comes to dental he alth, the status of Bulgarians is unfortunately not particularly good. Even children have several caries and suffer from pulpitis, the analyzes of the Dental Union show. The situation is even worse among the elderly, who are massively edentulous. However, they do not have the right to artificial incomes granted by the NHIF.
The situation in our country is deplorable, because for 27 years the Bulgarian thinks that the state is responsible for his he alth. And this is not so. Already in 1975, at a meeting in Almaty, the World He alth Organization emphasized that the he alth of the individual is his responsibility, and then society. But the Bulgarian continues to have a particular opinion on this matter. Since 2009, we've been pushing hard with the National Children's Oral He alth Prevention Program to turn it around.
What does it mean to be responsible for our he alth?
- The Bulgarian must learn to spend money on his he alth, but he doesn't. He is taught to give for the car, for the clothes, for his appearance, but not for his he alth. He only goes to the dentist when he feels pain. In addition, the Bulgarian ignores the fact that the he alth of the mouth is part of the general he alth of the individual. Our goal is for knowledge about it to become part of the children's value system.
Can our whole body suffer because of rotten teeth?
- Diseases in the mouth affect other organs and systems. And damage to other organs and systems manifests itself in the oral cavity. And this should be known. I always give the very bad example - pancreatic cancer has been proven to be caused by oral disease. If the hair falls out, there is most likely an untreated tooth and a focal outbreak. If you have joint disease, check that it is not related to a problem in the mouth. Myocarditis and pericarditis, diseases of the muscle and lining of the heart, have been shown to be caused by infections coming from the mouth.
All infectious diseases reflect in the mouth
Also anemias, diabetes… In general, the teeth are to blame for diseases of many other organs and one does not suspect it.
How does this happen?
- Their influence on the body occurs in two ways. The first is the direct damage caused by an infection of dental origin. Any infection leads to local and general manifestations in the body - fever, fatigue, headache, drowsiness, etc. Some organs can be directly damaged. For example, the connection between dental infections and some diseases of the heart, kidneys, joints, and eyes has been proven.
The other mechanism by which problem teeth affect the body occurs through the disruption of the so-called bioelectric balance of processes in the body. This is the creation of a pathological dominant in the diseased tooth and the so-called focal focus. It disrupts the balance in the body, which in turn can lead to easy fatigue, headaches, pains of unclear origin, etc.
Can we protect ourselves from periodontitis?
- The best "insurance" against periodontitis is regular teeth cleaning. Regular visits to the dentist, as well as the use of appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush, are an essential part of prevention. It is undeniable that harmful habits such as smoking, excessive coffee, sweets and alcohol, as well as age and stress affect the he alth of our smile. The cause of periodontitis is the accumulation of tartar and plaque. Therefore, they need to be cleaned twice a year. And for patients with more problematic gums - more often.
How to protect children's teeth?
- In addition to brushing teeth in older age, food is also very important. If the baby is on humanized milk, it should not be fed at night. He should also not be given sweetened water, a pacifier dipped in honey is also a bad habit of mothers. These habits lead to damage to the upper central incisors. In this way, caries develops quickly, and pulpitis of the temporary teeth is reached, and very early.
Taking freshly squeezed juices also poses a risk to children's teeth. They contain acids and if the mouth is not rinsed after taking them, a favorable environment is created for the degradation of tooth enamel. Many kids are fed an inappropriate fast food menu. This food is poor in proteins and extremely rich in carbohydrates. It not only damages the general he alth of children, but they also subsequently develop periodontal diseases.
Another problem in children is crooked teeth. It is they, as well as the incorrect bite, that complicate the cleaning of their teeth from plaque.
Plaque is a colony of microorganisms
whose breakdown products lead to the formation of tartar.
When you can't brush children's teeth, give them sugar-free gum. It is rich in minerals and dilutes the acids in the mouth. Microorganisms are a focus of infections, getting into the circulatory system, they can seriously damage the heart.
1 million Bulgarians need dental prostheses
Bulgarians have poor oral he alth. For 37-40-year-olds, things are much more dramatic. Every second between the ages of 22 and 24 is missing at least two teeth. At the age of 60-67, the number of missing teeth is already 17. Children up to the age of 7 have on average up to 4 caries in their mouths, up to the age of 1 - 7 caries on average, and every fourth young person who has reached the age of 18 already has an extracted at least one tooth. Out of a total of 2,400,000 pensioners in Bulgaria, at least 1,000,000 need dental prostheses. These are startling data and everything is a consequence of the non-treatment of caries and its complication. When a person has a problem with oral hygiene, he cannot eat, speak clearly and lead a full social life
Rules
► Brush your teeth and gums with a brush and paste at least twice a day for at least 2-3 minutes
► Use dental floss every day - with it you will clean those parts of the teeth and gums that cannot be reached by the brush.
► Avoid foods and drinks containing sugar, especially between meals.
► Don't smoke - tobacco causes teeth to turn yellow, and can also cause gum disease or cancer.
► Check your gums regularly - gum problems are proven to be the most common cause of tooth loss.
► Don't wait for pain to appear, go for regular check-ups.
Green tea drives away bacteria in the mouth
Prevention with natural remedies is a simple step that will help keep our teeth and gums in good he alth. One of the most common methods is gargling with a decoction of chamomile and sumac. Half a tablespoon each of sumac and chamomile is poured with half a liter of boiling water. 1 teaspoon of soda is also added to the infusion. After cooling, gargle with it several times a day, keeping the liquid in the mouth as long as possible.
Green tea helps eliminate the bacteria that cause decay. To reduce the sensitivity of the teeth and tighten the gums, rinse your mouth several times with a decoction of green tea at night before going to sleep.
Glue tincture helps a lot to strengthen the gums. Pour one full dropper of the tincture into 200 ml of water and gargle with it 1-2 times a day for 3 to 5 minutes.
