In the human mouthcould various types of dental germs, but not all of these germs are harmful. However, if you neglect to keep your teeth and mouth clean, certain types of dental germs can multiply and cause a number of health problems.
There are at least about 6 billion teeth and mouth germs. Of the many germs that exist in the teeth, there are good germs that benefit health and there are bad germs that can cause a number of diseases, especially if dental and oral hygiene are not maintained properly.
Habits That Make Bad Teeth Germs More
The following are some habits that can cause bad germs to appear and multiply rapidly in the mouth so that they are at risk of disturbing health:
1. Eating too many sweet or sour foods
Dental germs will multiply quickly if they get glucose from sugary or high-carbohydrate foods. These types of foods include bread, potato chips, candy, sweet cakes, and chocolate.
The habit of consuming sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, can also make dental germs thrive.
2. Lazy brushing teeth
The lazy habit of brushing your teeth can make food residue stick to your teeth and gums, and eventually cause plaque. The accumulation of food residue that forms plaque will become food intake for dental germs, so that germs can grow and multiply quickly.
3. Wrong choice mouthwash
Mouthwash with alcohol content can make the mouth dry. This can lead to plaque buildup and lead to more dental germs.
4. Smoking
Smoking habits can damage the balance of normal flora or good bacteria in the mouth. This will then cause the number of bad dental germs to be more.
Some other things that can affect the balance of organisms in the mouth include taking drugs that make dry mouth, hormonal changes in women, a weak immune system (for example due to side effects of chemotherapy drugs or HIV / AIDS), diabetes , and acid reflux disease.
Health Problems Due to Bad Tooth Germs
When the balance of microorganisms in the mouth is disturbed, the number of bad dental germs will increase. This can lead to a number of health problems, including:
1. Thrush
The exact cause of canker sores is still not known with certainty. However, this condition is closely related to the inflammatory process and an imbalance in the number of good and bad bacteria in the mouth. In addition, canker sores can also occur due to fungal growth Candida albicans.
2. Smell mmouth
Bad breath or halitosis is caused by several things, one of which is bacterial overgrowth. These bacteria can grow on food scraps, dental plaque, or when gum disease occurs.
3. Caries or cavities
Caries can be caused by dental germs, which are acid-producing bacteria that can damage teeth. If not treated, over time caries can lead to severe infections that can lead to toothache complaints.
4. Gingivitis
Gingivitis occurs when bad bacteria infect the gums through the buildup of plaque. This condition can cause your gums to swell and bleed when you brush your teeth.
Inflammation of the gums that is not treated properly will cause periodontitis, which is a severe infection of the gums where bacteria accumulate on the teeth and gums. This causes tooth decay and a number of complaints, such as tooth loss, swollen gums, bad breath, and painful swallowing.
5. Sinusitis
Upper tooth infection that is not treated over time can lead to sinusitis. This is because the sinus cavity is located adjacent to the upper teeth, so that dental germs that grow and multiply profusely in the teeth can move into the sinus cavity.
6. Heart problems
Certain bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream, where it can spread to other organs and cause inflammation. According to a study, the spread of dental germs can increase the risk of heart valve disorders, endocarditis, and heart disease.
Given the many impacts of dental germs that can interfere with health, then you need to take care of your teeth and mouth properly.
The trick is to regularly brush your teeth twice every day, clean between your teeth with dental floss, rinse your mouth with water after eating, increase consumption of fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables, reduce sugary foods and drinks, and regularly check your teeth with the dentist every day. 6 months.