With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day approaching, working people can temporarily set aside their busy schedules and enjoy this rare holiday. Besides traveling in groups, small gatherings of two or three are also common. Faced with a spread of delicious food, one can easily indulge. While it's a common saying to pay attention to dental health when delicious food is around, it's a reminder that proves its worth every year, as some people always end up at the hospital for dental issues after the holidays. Even though we are on vacation, the occurrence and development of cavities do not take a break. As the saying goes, "a toothache isn't a disease, but the pain can be deadly," and many people deeply feel the agony of rotten teeth. Therefore, the most important thing is to do a good job of prevention in advance.
Move 1: Control Dental Plaque: Use toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss together to develop good oral hygiene habits.
Controlling dental plaque is a key step in preventing cavities. You can use health care products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and interdental brushes to mechanically remove plaque. We should develop good oral hygiene habits, brushing at least morning and night, with brushing before sleep being especially important to reduce the residue and fermentation of food particles. Additionally, you can use toothpaste, lozenges, and mouthwashes containing natural plant extracts, chitosan, and other antibacterial and anti-adhesion agents to prevent bacteria from adhering to the tooth surface and reduce plaque formation.
Move 2: Pay Attention to Diet: Eat less sweets between meals, and absolutely no sweets before bed.
Controlling sugar intake is beneficial for preventing cavities. Your diet should include a mix of coarse and fine foods, with more fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, and fewer sticky sweets like milk candy and cakes. Eat less sweets between meals, and avoid eating sweets before bed.
Move 3: Take Anti-Cavity Measures: Fluoride toothpaste is effective, but children should be careful not to ingest too much fluoride.
A certain amount of fluoride can promote remineralization, increase the acid resistance of hydroxyapatite, and prevent bacterial adhesion, thus preventing cavities. Both public water fluoridation and the use of fluoride toothpaste have significant anti-cavity effects and are effective methods for widespread cavity prevention. However, children should be monitored to prevent excessive fluoride intake, which can cause dental fluorosis or fluorosis poisoning.
Move 4: Pit and Fissure Sealants: Set up a barrier to prevent bacteria and food debris from entering.
For areas prone to cavities, such as pits and fissures, pit and fissure sealants can act as a barrier, isolating the pits from the oral environment and preventing cariogenic factors like bacteria, food debris, and their acidic byproducts from entering and causing cavities.
Move 5: Regular Dental Check-ups: Get a check-up at least once every six months to a year.
Get a dental check-up at least once every six months to a year for early detection and treatment. During the examination, the dentist can provide advice beneficial for oral health and help correct poor oral hygiene habits.