This disease that you don’t take seriously when you are young can actually cause all your teeth to fall out!

Hello, this is Science Popularization China. The World Health Organization once proposed a concept called "8020", which means that an 80-year-old should have at least 20 usable natural teeth in order to maintain the chewing function of the teeth. But now many young people have 3-4 missing teeth, and the remaining teeth are also shaky. What is the reason?

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We have to mention the culprit that makes our teeth fall out easily, periodontitis. "Periodontium", as the name implies, refers to the area around the teeth, including the gums, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and cementum, which are collectively called periodontal support tissues. Their healthy existence allows our teeth to be firmly attached. But if they become infected and inflamed, it may lead to periodontitis. In particular, the development of periodontitis is very slow, unlike diseases such as tooth decay and pulpitis that will quickly cause tooth pain. There are no particularly obvious acute symptoms at the beginning of periodontitis, which is why many people do not pay attention to it when they are young.

At first, the symptoms of periodontitis are just red gums and bleeding when brushing. But as the disease progresses, the gums may gradually recede, causing the gaps between the teeth to widen. After a while, the teeth will gradually become loose and shaky, and may even be a little painful. If you don't see a dentist, when the root of the tooth begins to be exposed, the tooth may fall out one day.

Image source: unsplash.com Photographer: Enis Yavuz

So how can we prevent periodontitis? The key lies in good oral hygiene habits. Adhere to regular brushing twice a day and use dental floss to clean the gaps between teeth at least once a day. It seems simple, but it is not easy to stick to it. In addition, for patients with periodontitis or people with wide gaps between teeth, using interproximal brushes or water flossers can increase the cleaning effect.

Speaking of this, it might be helpful to recall that if you haven’t had your teeth cleaned for a year, you might as well set out now, find the nearest oral hospital or dental clinic, and give yourself a thorough oral examination!

Image source: unsplash.com Photographer: Kamal Hoseinianzade

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association