The mouth is inhabited by a natural flora, also called bacteria. An overly clean mouth, due to lack of healthful bacteria, gets dry which sometimes causes sore throat. But a dirty mouth gives one halitosis(bad breath) and other mouth diseases such as gingivitis and worse, tooth decay.
We brush our teeth to take away the plaque, this is the hardened mouth dirt brought by the food we eat. For the bits of food hiding in between the teeth, we use dental floss. As for the remaining unwanted substances in the throat and tonsils, we use antiseptic gargles. For mild sore throat that contribute to the unpleasant breath odor, a lozenge can do the job.
It is recommended that we brush our teeth after every meals, together with the flossing. Gargle should be a habit before sleeping and after waking or even after a spicy meal. But sometimes a good toothpaste takes care of the gargle’s job.
The teeth has roots attached to the nerves that is located in the lining of the jaw(for the lower teeth). Enamel is the coating of the teeth which protects the sensitive root nerves. When the enamel is eroded or when it is chipped off resulting in a cavity, that’s when tooth decay sets in because the root is invaded by foreign matters causing it to swell. Inflammation of the root is what we know as tooth ache that can be remedies by pain relievers such as tablets or even a swab of perfume. Some dentists say that over-brushing of the teeth weakens the enamel. For a more permanent remedy for tooth ache, a tooth extraction or a filling job is done.
Milk is the first and foremost for the bones and teeth. Lack of milk when we are young can cause weak teeth foundations that can cause early tooth decay. We can also get calcium from shell foods like clams. For the teeth’s enemy, we might as well avoid eating sweets constantly or drinking soda before sleeping(without brushing).
For the last recourse, we are, however, lucky in our lifetime because false dentures are far advanced with a choice of plastic or ceramic material. In the near future, implants will be as common as extraction. This is the process of inserting a false tooth into the gums and right into the lining of the jaw, just like having the original tooth growth.
Whatever remedy may be invented, prevention of tooth decay is still the best of all. So let’s keep on brushing, flossing and gargling out there, okay?