关于牙齿的小知识
Young children don't need to see a dentist FALSE More than half of children under the age of four - almost 58% - didn't see a dentist last year, according to figures from the Royal College of Surgeons. Dentist Steve Preddy of Bupa Dental Care says: "Children's oral health is so important but many parents don't realise that children should begin seeing their dentist as soon as their first teeth start coming through." Always brush your teeth before breakfast TRUE "Definitely before, particularly if you are drinking juice, which contains acids," says Dr Uchenna Okoye, dentist and Oral-B ambassador. "Foods containing citric acid, like oranges and grapefruits, weaken tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after eating them can damage the enamel further in its weakened state." In fact, you should brush your teeth as soon as you wake. "If you do, you will brush away plaque bacteria that has developed during the night which could be fed by sugar or acid in food, causing further softening of the enamel." Mouth ulcers are harmless NOT ALWAYS While ulcers are usually more ?uncomfortable than dangerous, the sores which appear on the cheeks, lips and tongue should always clear up within a week or two. But if a mouth ulcer lasts longer than three weeks you should get it checked by a dentist or doctor urgently as it may be a symptom of something more serious like cancer. Gum disease can cause Alzheimer's UNLIKELY Dr David Reynolds, chief scientific officer from Alzheimer's Research UK, says: "While some studies have found higher levels of a bacteria linked to gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, in the brain during Alzheimer's, it remains unclear what role, if any, it plays. Diseases such as Alzheimer's are complex and have various causes, but strong genetic evidence indicates factors other than bacterial infections are central to their development." "Maintaining good dental health is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and while we don't yet fully know the extent to which it can affect our dementia risk, the presence of a single type of bacteria is unlikely to be the only cause of the condition." |