At the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Changsha County, Hunan Province, doctors provide guidance on the correct way to brush teeth. Xinhua News Agency reported
Recently, some so-called toothpaste products sold on the market claim to have the effects of "promoting teething in young children," "repairing tooth cavities," "closing gaps between teeth," "stabilizing loose teeth," and even "regenerating teeth." In this regard, the State Food and Drug Administration issued a document on July 5 stating that toothpaste is not a medicine, cannot treat diseases, and does not have the above-mentioned effects.
With the innovation of toothpaste technology, adding corresponding functional ingredients to ordinary toothpaste can make the toothpaste have corresponding effects. For example, adding fluoride can exert a certain anti-caries effect. "But it should be noted that no toothpaste can treat oral diseases." The State Food and Drug Administration emphasized. During the interview,
reporters found that many toothpastes claiming to "repair dental cavities" and "anti-cavities" are flooded on various shopping platforms. The overwhelming promotion and publicity, coupled with the dazzling array of dental floss, electric toothbrushes and other products, have added a lot of confusion to the purchase of "teeth" products. How do we protect oral health?
Toothpaste has been "reinvented", but its function is still cleaning
As consumer demand becomes more and more diversified and quality-oriented, toothpaste, a daily necessity, is constantly being upgraded - its ingredients are becoming more and more sophisticated, and its appearance is getting better and better. Enzyme toothpaste, amino acid toothpaste, probiotic toothpaste... More and more toothpastes are flooding into the market with puzzling "new concepts", and the taste and texture of the paste are also constantly new.
"As for toothpaste, what I can intuitively feel is the price, capacity, taste and packaging. I usually choose a toothpaste with a fresh taste." Tianjin citizen Yan Qiao did not "think too much" when buying toothpaste.
toothpaste is a preparation that assists brushing teeth and can be divided into two categories: ordinary toothpaste and functional toothpaste. "The main function of toothpaste is to assist brushing and promote oral hygiene. It can enhance the friction of brushing, help remove food residue, soft dirt and plaque in the mouth, and freshen breath." Oral Prevention Department, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Deputy Director Zhi Qinghui said, "Effective toothpaste is made by adding other active ingredients, such as fluoride, potassium salt , etc., to prevent caries and anti-sensitivity, but its function is still to clean and assist in health care."
"The basic ingredients of toothpaste are similar, with friction agents accounting for the main part, the purpose is to increase the friction when brushing teeth, and auxiliary friction agents such as foaming agents, aromatics , etc. also play a role. Whether it is an ordinary toothpaste for general cleaning Or functional toothpaste, their main functions are the same." Yang Feng, deputy chief physician of the Department of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital , analyzed the ingredients of toothpaste.
Liu Min, director of the Oral Prevention Department of Beijing Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, further explained: "Dental plaque is the main problem causing oral diseases. It adheres to the tooth surface and cannot be removed by gargling. It must be removed mechanically. We The core purpose of using toothpaste is to remove dental plaque. Efficacy toothpaste can relieve certain symptoms to a certain extent, but the most fundamental thing is mechanical friction. You cannot just rely on the efficacy of toothpaste."
toothpaste. Claims should have sound scientific basis. According to the " Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations ", toothpaste filers can claim that toothpaste has the effects of preventing caries, inhibiting dental plaque, fighting dentin sensitivity, and alleviating gum problems after conducting efficacy evaluations in accordance with national standards and industry standards.
Among various dental problems, caries is one of the most common diseases that harm oral health, but it can be prevented. For this reason, the importance of self-oral health care is self-evident. Liu Min recommends using fluoride toothpaste for this purpose. "Fluoride is added to toothpaste, and its anti-caries effect is internationally recognized and has been confirmed by clinical studies."
"Consumers can choose from several common toothpastes based on their own needs. For example, root surface caries in the elderly The risk is relatively high, you can use toothpaste with anti-caries effect." Zhao Lei, director of the periodontal department of West China Stomatological Hospital, said, "If symptoms of dentin sensitivity occur, after ruling out the presence of caries, cracks and other carious lesions on the tooth, as well as obvious defects in the neck of the tooth, there are still root causes. If the tooth surface is exposed or some structures on the tooth surface are slightly worn, you can choose to use an anti-sensitivity toothpaste. "
Tools are "updated", and the usage method is still the key.
Chatting with friends, Ms. Liu, a Beijing citizen, suddenly felt that her teeth needed careful care, so she bought an expensive electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are really better than ordinary ones. Is the toothbrush clean? Many experts said that this is actually a misunderstanding.
"The difference between an electric toothbrush and a regular toothbrush is like the difference between washing clothes in a machine or by hand, or driving in an automatic transmission or a manual transmission. "Liu Min said, "Generally speaking, electric toothbrushes clean faster, but this does not mean that electric toothbrushes have a higher cleaning effect. For example, if the plaque in the mouth is 100%, whether it is an electric toothbrush or an ordinary toothbrush, it can usually only remove 50%. However, it only takes 2 to 4 minutes to use an ordinary toothbrush, and it may only take 1 to 2 minutes to use an electric toothbrush. . No matter what kind of toothbrush you use, brushing your teeth must be thorough. This principle is the same. "
The key is to master the correct way of brushing your teeth." Only when the toothbrush bristles stay and vibrate in a group of teeth at a relatively correct angle for a long time can the bacteria on this part of the teeth be effectively removed. An electric toothbrush can vibrate at a more efficient frequency in a short period of time, but if you still use an extensive brushing method, there will be many omissions and its cleaning effect will be greatly reduced. Once you master the correct way of brushing your teeth, there is no problem using a regular toothbrush. " Zhao Lei reminded.
The gaps between teeth are the "dead spots" that cannot be cleaned by brushing. Experts say that it is very necessary to use dental floss to remove plaque in the gaps between teeth. "Many people have problems with their teeth. It starts from the gap between the teeth. If one is damaged, two will be damaged. What is worrying is that the floss usage rate among Chinese residents is still very low. "Liu Min said. Can
water floss replace ordinary dental floss? "Water flosser, also known as dental flosser , ejects a relatively high-pressure water vapor column in a relatively short period of time, thereby cleaning the mouth. The local bacteria on the adjacent surfaces of the teeth are washed away. " Zhao Lei explained, "When we recommend it to the patient, we will suggest that he use dental floss and water floss in a certain combination, so that the cleaning efficiency will be higher. "
Liu Min believes that water flossers are more convenient to use, but if the gaps between teeth are small, the water flossers may not be able to get through them. When using water flossers, you must also ensure that every gap between teeth is not missed. "In fact, many people are careless about flossing and do not clean every gap between teeth strictly."
"Thorough" is the only way to effectively protect
In our country, oral health behaviors such as brushing teeth twice a day and using fluoride toothpaste still form a proportion. There is much room for improvement. The results of the Fourth National Oral Epidemiology Survey show that the rate of brushing teeth twice a day among adults is 36.1%, and the rate of using fluoride toothpaste is 61.0%.
Nowadays, Chinese residents attach great importance to oral health and health care. Awareness still needs to be raised, which has become the consensus of experts. The survey found that among residents aged 35 to 44, the detection rate of tartar in the mouth was 96.7%; the detection rate of gum bleeding was 87.4%.
"The oral health status of Chinese residents is not good. Optimistically, brushing your teeth is the simplest and most effective method of oral health care. There is still a certain proportion of people who do not have the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day. This group of people has a relatively high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease . "Zhao Lei said, "Brush your teeth twice a day, morning and evening, for at least three minutes each time, and assist with brushing once at noon if possible. At the same time, use dental floss, interdental brushes and other dental products to clean the gaps between teeth. Conduct a professional oral examination every year, including examination of teeth, periodontal tissue, and examination of some common oral mucosa diseases, and deal with minor problems as soon as possible. In addition, routine periodontal cleaning and maintenance treatments are also necessary. ”
What should children and the elderly pay attention to?
Parents are the first person responsible for their children’s oral health.Zhao Lei introduced: "When the child has no teeth, the mother can use gauze and water to wipe the mucous membrane in the baby's mouth. After the deciduous teeth erupt, you can wipe them in this way, or use special deciduous teeth. Use a toothbrush to clean. When a child’s teeth grow, parents should brush their children’s teeth, help them clean every surface of each tooth, and assist them in flossing. “How long should parents help their children brush their teeth? Liu Min explained: "If a child can write proficiently after entering elementary school, it means that his fingers are flexible enough and he has the ability to brush his teeth. But whether he has such a wish, parents still have to keep an eye on the child." Only when you are old enough and have the ability and willingness can you let go. "
In addition to oral cleaning, infant feeding equipment such as bottles also need to be regularly disinfected and cleaned. "If the baby bottle is not disinfected in time, it will also cause imbalance of some oral flora or infection by some pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the cleaning of tongue coating cannot be ignored. There are some uneven spots on the back of many toothbrushes, which can To assist in cleaning the tongue coating, you can also use a tongue scraper to clean it," Yang Feng said.
"The situation of the elderly will be more complicated. In addition to brushing their teeth in the morning and evening and using fluoride toothpaste, many elderly people will have periodontal disease. Gum recession is more severe, the gap between the teeth is larger, and the root of the tooth is also exposed, and the root of the tooth will They are more susceptible to dental caries, and once they develop dental caries, they will progress faster. Therefore, the focus of caries prevention for the elderly is to prevent root surface caries. They need to use interdental cleaning tools, such as interdental brushes and dental rinsers, and perform regular oral health Check." Zhi Qinghui introduced.
Zhao Lei reminded: "Some elderly people have dentures , and the risk of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis is not low. Regular maintenance and cleaning of implants is also very important, especially Patients who have had periodontal disease are at high risk of developing disease around their implants.”
Dietary habits are closely related to our oral health. Zhi Qinghui recommends developing regular eating habits, minimizing the intake of cariogenic foods, and reducing the number of snacks outside meals. "An increase in the intake of cariogenic foods, such as high-sugar foods and sugary drinks, will increase the risk of caries. In addition, the more frequently we eat, the longer the oral cavity is in a low pH environment. The longer the tooth is, the greater the possibility of demineralization
(our reporter Fan Rong)
