Do you know the method of self-examination for tooth decay?

Tooth decay is commonly known as "cavity" or "tooth decay", and the real cause is not yet clear. Tooth decay is under the influence of many factors; the inorganic matter in the hard tissues is demineralized, and the organic matter is decomposed, which results in a disease of tooth tissue defect. It is characterized by changes in the color and hardness of the carious part of the tooth at the beginning of tooth decay, followed by substantial defects in the tooth tissue to form cavities, and the lesions continue to develop in the depths, which can cause endodontic disease, periapical disease, and jaw inflammation And other complications, even become oral lesions and affect the health of the whole body.

Clinical manifestations

Tooth decay is most likely to occur in the occlusal pits and fissures of molars and bicuspids, as well as the contact surfaces of adjacent teeth. The former is called pit and fissure caries, and the latter is called adjacent caries. There are very few caries in the neck of children, and it can only be seen when severe malnutrition or certain systemic diseases make the physique extremely weak. According to the degree of caries destruction, clinically it can be divided into superficial caries, medium caries and deep caries.

1. Shallow caries

The caries damage is only in the enamel. The initial manifestation is the appearance of brown or dark brown spots or plaques on the enamel, and the surface is rough. Then the surface damage is formed. Proximal caries start to occur below the contact surface, while pit and fissure caries usually start in the sulcus, which is not easy to see in the early stage. It can only be seen when it occurs at the mouth of the pit and fissure, but the pigmentation of food is prone to occur at the mouth of the pit and fissure of the children's teeth. There are no symptoms of shallow caries.

2. Medium caries

The caries has reached the dentin, forming a superficial dentin cavity. Sick children will feel sore teeth in cold water, air-conditioning, or sweet and sour food, but after the irritation is removed, the symptoms disappear immediately. This is because the dentin is hypersensitive to irritation. The middle caries is treated in time and the effect is good.

3. Deep caries

The caries has reached the deep layer of dentin, close to the pulp, or has affected the pulp. The child feels pain to cold, heat, sour, and sweet, and is particularly sensitive to heat. After being defeated, the pain will continue for a certain period of time before it gradually disappears. In most cases, endodontic treatment is needed to preserve the teeth.

If deep caries are left untreated, secondary dental pulp infection or pulp necrosis occurs. Bacteria can reach outside the apical foramen through the root of the tooth, causing inflammation around the apex. May form focal infection. If the crown has been largely damaged or only the residual root remains, it should be removed.

What foods should not eat for tooth decay

1. Sweet and greasy products

In particular, sucrose has the most significant cariogenic effect, causing local hard tissues to undergo necrosis, demineralization, transparency changes, tooth enamel discoloration, local softening, loosening, and formation of cavities. Teeth shake for a long time, so avoid eating. Sweet and greasy foods also have the same effects as above. They are a direct stimulus to caries and hinder gastrointestinal digestion and absorption, which affects the health of caries patients. Therefore, it is also not allowed to eat.

2. Acidic food

Because acidic food can produce more lactic acid under the action of oral Lactobacillus, and the lactic acid is further decalcified in the damaged tooth cavity, which increases the area of tooth decay and further aggravates the condition. Therefore, you should eat less acidic food melanoma Chinese medicine, and brush your teeth after eating to remove the food residues in the dental caries. Such foods include pomegranate, bayberry, wild jujube, vinegar and so on.

3. Hot medicine

The disease is mostly caused by wind-heat, gastric fire or virtual fire. Therefore, clinical medicine should not use atractylodes, magnolia, aconite, dried ginger, cinnamon and other dry and hot products, so as not to damage the yin to aid the fire and aggravate the condition. People who are willing to suffer from dental caries should eat more foods rich in vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin A in their diet, such as milk, liver, eggs, meat, fish, tofu, shrimp skin, pineapple, carrots, sweet potatoes, green peppers, and hawthorn , Olives, persimmons, sand fruits, etc. Foods that contain more fluoride include fish, shrimp, kelp, and jellyfish. The above is the dietary treatment of dental caries introduced by the editor. Warm reminder: brush your teeth in the morning and evening. Even if you brush your teeth at night before going to bed, you cannot omit the procedure of brushing your teeth in the morning. Children usually develop good eating habits, eat less sweets, and control the intake of sucrose.

4. Hard and rough food

Hard and coarse foods, such as fried peanuts, fried broad beans, fried soybeans, fried cashews, fried torreya and crude fiber vegetables such as celery, bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, leeks, water spinach, raw carrots, etc., and fried foods such as tonkatsu , Roast lamb, fried broad beans, etc. These foods need to be chewed vigorously, and sometimes they will fill in the cavities to deepen the cavities, so they should be avoided.

5. Too cold and hot food

The integrity of the teeth of patients with dental caries is mostly damaged. The remotely transferred cavity of dental caries with deeper diseased teeth can communicate with the dental pulp, and the nerve endings of the dental pulp are exposed, which makes it more sensitive to cold and heat stimulation. Eat hot and cold food At times, severe pain will occur due to stimulation of exposed nerve endings. Alcohol and excitement drinks.

6. Wine

Containing alcohol, it can stimulate the nervous system, especially high-concentration alcohol, which is harmful to the liver, gastrointestinal tract and other digestive systems; excitatory beverages such as coffee and cocoa also have similar effects, and patients with dental caries need to be quiet. Therefore, it cannot be eaten, especially not suitable for patients with fever and headache.

7. Low fluoride diet

Fluorine is an indispensable element in the normal body. There is a certain amount of fluorine in the drinking water, which is conducive to the calcification and metabolism of the tooth tissue, enhances the acid resistance and anti-caries ability of the teeth, and can effectively prevent the occurrence of caries or make the caries heal. For anti-acute myelogenous leukemia, if you eat less fluoride-containing diet, or live in an area with low fluoride content in drinking water and food, the incidence of dental caries and the severity of the disease will be greatly increased.

Self-examination of caries

1. Changes in tooth color

Observe carefully with the mirror whether there are any abnormal changes in the color of the teeth. Pay attention to the changes in the color of the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth and the pits and fissures of the lip and tongue, the gap between the two teeth of the front teeth, and the strength of the lips and cheeks. If the color of the pits and fissures on the occlusal surface is ink-soaked, it is possible that the teeth have been decayed.

2. Changes in tooth texture

The hard tissues of teeth that are eroded by bacteria will decalcify and become soft, and may break when subjected to chewing pressure, forming larger cavities.

3. Changes in tooth shape

The surface of the tooth with caries will become incomplete, some will form holes and some will form small pieces and fall off.

4. Changes in tooth surface cleanliness

There are often food and soft dirt on the tooth surface, and there is pigmentation that cannot be removed by brushing.

5. Subjective symptoms

When encountering hot and cold stimulation or eating sweet and sour food. There is a feeling of soreness and discomfort.