‘I have 32 of them and I can afford to lose a few‘ said a friend of mine I recall. Teeth – the white (yellowish or brownish for a few – pun intended) part inside the mouth that are lined up like the pillars of the Greek Parthenon and at times like the Torre de Pisa for a few. They are one of the most important necessities for everyone – to eat, speak, smile and much more. As a Professional Dentist in Chennai who practices with Dr.Smilez, I would like to share my two cents on Dental Care.
How much do we understand it’s significance? For a few of us, it is to flaunt that smile and grin wide. For a few, it is to bite on those pizzas and golgappas. For almost everyone the teeth are like a pack of slaves that undergo a battle everyday. Who wins the battle is the point of contention.
What happens if we have poor oral hygiene? Smiling and laughing out loud is possible, but with a high chance of embarrassment. Chewing and biting becomes painful or tasking. And have you heard old toothless grandparents talk? It must have been a challenge to understand them and this means teeth help us speak clearly also.
Assuming that everyone knows it is mandatory to brush twice daily, let us dwell into the science behind it. Caries – or decay in the common language- is the destruction of the enamel and structure of teeth because of the microbial activity and acids in the mouth. This can happen only in the areas where food particles remain in the mouth for long periods. These minuscule food particles stay in the crevices around the teeth – which become the susceptible for the microbes. These destructive organisms turn the food particles into their fodder that produces acids in turn, thus leaching the teeth.
A cavity is a common dental problem. But it is unlike a fever that gets cured by popping a capsule or two. It needs a dentist’s attention at its earlier stage to avoid further complications. And for any dental condition for that matter, no one will be able to fix it other than a qualified dentist. Dentistry might seem complicated, expensive and scary of course. But the physical effort and the minuscule details that a Dentist pays attention to has to be understood and recognized. Your teeth are indispensable (The artificial teeth are a boon definitely, but nothing like having your own original set right?) It is in your hands to take care of it properly as it is for the Dentists. Why else do you think Dentistry is a science by itself? A thought for a minute will help! 🙂
Dr. Vigneshwaran. V
