Oral health includes more than just the status of your teeth. When your dentist says that he or she takes care of your oral health, that basically includes all of the other structures inside your mouth. And whether your problem is bad breath or tooth decay, the answer to why you have these dental conditions could be answered by other structures inside your mouth other than your teeth. Get ready to open your mouth and know the parts of this orifice.
The Oral Mucosa
This membrane is what lines all structures inside your mouth other than your teeth. The oral mucosa is more important than you think since it guards your mouth from infections and irritants. When you accidentally hit your inner cheeks or gums by your toothbrush, it is the oral mucosa which is actually damaged especially in the case of canker sores.
The Gums
This is the pinkish structure which support your teeth. While it is true that tooth decay is one of the most prevalent dental conditions among children, it’s actually gum diseases which affect most adults. According to statistics, around 75 percent of adults will develop or have developed gum disease at least once in their lives.
So how do you know that you have diseased gums? Healthy gums should be pinkish in color and firm to touch. On the other hand, unhealthy gums are red in color, they are noticeably swollen and they are tender when you touch them. Also, they are very fragile and can bleed with just the slightest agitation. This includes just merely brushing your teeth.
Want to prevent the existence or control the severity of your gum disease? Just maintain a strict dental hygiene regimen which includes brushing after each meal, rinsing with anti-tartar and anti-plaque mouthwash and flossing. All of these measures are done to keep plaque from accumulating on the surfaces of the teeth and the dental gumline.
Tongue
Your tongue is also known as the strongest muscle. However, it also contains folds, especially at the back of your mouth, wherein bacteria can proliferate to their advantage. However, these are not common bacteria since they are anerobic, or they require the absence of oxygen in order to grow properly. Unfortunately, anerobic bacteria produce foul-smelling metabolites which can give you bad breath. Want to avoid that? Then simply brush or scrape your tongue whenever you brushed your teeth to get rid of the bacteria.
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