2017 EDITION Vol.4 Issue 16 DIGITAL

Health
By Okocha Obianuju Ifeoma
Taking your child to the dentist
at a young age is the best way to
prevent problems such as tooth decay,
and other dental problems. More than
that, it helps parents learn how to
clean their child’s teeth and identify
his or her fluoride needs. Parents
typically provide oral hygiene care
until the child is old enough to take
personal responsibility for the daily
routine of brushing and flossing. There
is a need for making oral health fun
for kids because it is an important part
of addressing dental problems, and
creating a culture of good oral health.
An understanding of oral hygiene can
help parents to prevent tooth decay.
After all, decay can occur as soon as
teeth appear. Many people think that
milk teeth are not important because
they will soon fall off. But milk teeth
have a very important function of
keeping space for the permanent
teeth. It is important to note that
diseases of milk teeth can affect the
permanent teeth. Bringing your child
to the dentist early often leads to a
lifetime of good oral care habits.
Why is oral health and hygiene so
important? It is said, prevention is
always better than cure. Thus, if you
take proper care of your teeth and
maintain good oral hygiene, your
teeth will remain stronger, and healthy
for long.
Poor dental hygiene can build-up plaque that
might eventually lead to gum disease and bad
breath problems. Good oral health is critical
for multiple reasons, including keeping your
teeth and gums in good working condition,
maintaining an attractive smile, preventing
chronic bad breath (halitosis), minimising
the risks of oral cancer, and preventing an
unhealthy mouth from negatively affecting
other parts of the body.
Last, but not the least, severe impact of poor
dental hygiene leads to Cavities. Cavities can
eat away teeth to the point that the tooth will
have to be extracted, leading to permanent
loss of teeth. Gum disease (periodontal) is
another common and potentially dangerous
result of poor dental hygiene. Periodontal
infections can also spread diseases through
the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
Preventing oral problems through proper
dental hygiene will certainly help reduce
the oral problems listed above. The abovementioned
problems are enough to make us
take note, and get serious about regular dental
hygiene. Otherwise, poor dental health could
lead to many problems.
As harmless as one might think dental
problems could be, they might lead to more
serious and complicated problems such as:
Heart Disease: people with
periodontal disease are two
times more likely to develop
heart disease and arterial
narrowing as a result, as
well as plague entering the
bloodstream and the gums.
Increased risk of
Dementia: Tooth loss due
to poor dental health is also a
risk factor for memory loss.
Respiratory problems:
Bacteria from periodontal
disease can travel through
the bloodstream to the
lungs where it can aggravate
respiratory systems, especially
in patients who already have respiratory
problems.
Erectile dysfunction:
Periodontal bacteria can
not only travel through the
bloodstream, it can inflame
blood vessels and block blood
flow to the genitals. Men with
periodontal disease are more times more
likely to experience erectile dysfunction than
men with good dental hygiene.
Ways to achieve good dental hygiene
includes:
1. Proper Brushing: Brush your teeth
at least twice a day, morning and night
– especially before going to bed. This is
important because most bacteria in the
mouth are very active while you sleep.
2. Flossing: This can help you remove food
particles, and other detrimental substances
that brushing regularly cannot.
3. Limit Sugary Drinks and Alcohol:
Choose beverages like milk, which helps
strengthen teeth and build stronger enamel,
giving you a healthy, beautiful smile.
Moreover, drinking water hydrates your
body longer than sugary drinks.
4. Clean Your Tongue: Clean the surface
of your tongue daily. By using a professional
tongue cleaner, you remove countless
bacteria that otherwise live, particularly
on the rougher top surface of your tongue.
These bacteria can contribute to bad breath
(halitosis), and negatively affect your dental
health.
5. Visit your Dentist: You should visit
your dentist at least twice a year to have a
full hygiene treatment performed.
Our teeth help us to eat, talk, smile, and feel
confident. Missing our teeth will not only
create an obstacle to eating and talking, it
makes us look dull, and aged. But that is not
all, having good teeth is very important for
chewing and digestion. If you cannot chew
your food well, it could lead to digestion
problems, which could equally cause serious
health problems.
Therefore, proper maintenance of a good
oral hygiene by taking necessary precautions
and seeing your dentist at least twice a year
is absolutely recommended.
6 Kata kata cartoon magazine Issue 16 NOV 2017 www.katakata.org