Hello World！
Do you know how many bacteria live in the oral cavity?
Surprisingly, about 100 to 600 billion bacteria live in the oral cavity. Oral bacteria in saliva can cause pneumonia if they enter the bronchi and lungs.
Periodontal bacteria are common in the oral cavity, and having periodontal disease appears to triple the risk of having a stroke or myocardial infarction and double the risk of diabetes. Pregnant women with periodontal disease are reported to have a seven-fold increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Furthermore, animal studies have shown that periodontal disease worsens Alzheimer's disease.
So why does bacteria increase in the oral cavity?
Bacteria in the oral cavity multiply using sugar as a nutrient. Eight hours after eating or drinking, the bacteria form clumps, and after 24 hours, they form visible clumps, or plaque. Soft plaque can be removed by brushing, but it is almost impossible to remove plaque between the teeth and at the border between the teeth and gums. Plaque then becomes tartar in two to three days. Once tartar forms, it can no longer be removed by brushing. Tartar makes it easier for bacteria to attach to the plaque, which in turn makes it easier for plaque to form and tartar to grow, creating a vicious cycle.
So, is there nothing we can do about this?
Regular visits to the dentist for oral care maintenance can reduce the risks mentioned above. However, there is a limit to the amount of maintenance that can be done every few months. This is where self-care becomes necessary.
So how can self-care for periodontal disease prevention?
Many people brush their teeth daily but do not rinse them thoroughly, leaving toothpaste residue in the mouth where plaque and sugars that feed bacteria can adhere. Therefore, it seems that we need to gargle thoroughly after brushing our teeth to ensure that no toothpaste is left behind. Therefore, I will tell you how to gargle without leaving any toothpaste residue in the oral cavity.
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1 Hold about 30㎖ of water in your mouth, and with your mouth closed, hit the contained water strongly and quickly 10 times toward your upper teeth, and spit out the water.
2 Hold the water in the mouth in the same way, and this time, hit the water against the lower teeth 10 times in the same way, and spit out the water.
3 Hold the water in the mouth in the same manner, this time toward the right tooth, hit it 10 times in the same manner, and spit out the water.
4 Hold the water in the mouth in the same manner, this time toward the left tooth, hit it 10 times in the same manner, and spit out the water.
5 Perform 3 sets of 1 to 4.
Brush your teeth after eating to remove plaque with a toothbrush and floss, and this gargling method will drastically reduce oral bacteria by removing plaque and toothpaste and other residues.
Even when brushing is not possible, this gargling method can remove a significant amount of bacteria and plaque.
Many dentists teach the importance of brushing one's teeth, but few teach the importance of gargling.
This is a simple method, and I encourage everyone to practice it.