Nine out of ten people around the world are at risk of having some kind of oral disease, from caries to gum disease to oral cancer, warns the  World Health Organization , which reminds that prevention begins in childhood and yet, even in developed countries, between 60% and 90% of children of school age have cavities .

Experts warns that “having healthy teeth, gums and mouths are aspects of health that people often take for granted until they no longer have them.” Experts say it is a “regrettable fact” because good habits and regular check-ups could prevent most oral health problems, “which is easier to happen if people know the importance of oral health”, admits.

Tobacco and alcohol

One of the most serious forms of this disease is mouth cancer, whose most important risk factors are the consumption of tobacco or alcohol and the human papillomavirus (HPV). Oral health professionals can play a key role in early detection by examining their patients for signs of oral cancer at check-ups. In both North and South America, the burden of this type of disease has decreased significantly since 1980, largely thanks to public health interventions such as the use of fluoride in salt and water, or the use of technologies Simple and effective in oral health care.

To achieve this evolution, the WHO reminds that oral diseases can be prevented through healthy habits, such as brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing and fluoride mouthwash every day, Make regular revisions for both children and adults and avoid carbonated beverages, artificial juices, energy drinks, sweets and sweets, junk food and tobacco and alcohol.

Surely more than once you have woken up and spent the next few minutes, or even part of the day, wondering what the hell that dream you had meant.

Flying, being late to something important, rushing into the void, dreaming of pregnancy, being naked in public or falling teeth are some of the most common and recurring dreams among the population, despite cultural differences.

The dreams are still a mystery for the human being and, therefore, for science. We know the importance of sleeping for our body, but what happens during the REM sleep phase, when the images are so vivid that the brain needs to deactivate the muscle tone so that we do not hurt ourselves, it remains an enigma. Do those dreams mean anything? More specifically, how to interpret those in which we attend, anguished, to the fall of our own teeth?

Dream that your teeth are falling

A beautiful smile represents happiness, security, strength and beauty. A healthy and careful dentition helps you to convey an attractive image and plays an important role in relationships with others. Therefore, in psychology and at a general level, we can say that dreaming about falling teeth usually means insecurity, lack of confidence in ourselves, low self-esteem, whether in the personal or professional field.

One theory is that dreams related to teeth reflect anxieties about our appearance and the perception others have of us. Although they can appear at any age, recent studies show that women in menopause suffer this type of dreams more frequently, which would support the explanation that relates these dream contents with the fear of aging and loss of physical attractiveness.

Also, the teeth, which serve to bite, break or chew, also tell us about our inner strength. Thus, if we run out of them in dreams, we may feel vulnerable: unable to achieve the goals we had set ourselves, afraid of failing, of being questioned or ridiculed before others. We may be living in a situation where we cannot express ourselves as we would like, we cannot be sufficiently heard or we feel frustrated because someone does not pay attention to us.

Fear of changes

In addition to insecurity as a concept more related to this type of dreams, another explanation may be the fear of changes. The fall of the teeth supposes an event of great impact in our vital development. They grow during childhood, then fall when we go from this stage to adolescence to, later, go back out. Therefore, the fall of the teeth represents a period of transition in our lives. If you are going through some phase in which many changes are taking place and this creates you anxiety, then you are likely to have this kind of dreams.

Recurring and common dreams, most times distressing and unpleasant. Before them, experts recommend becoming aware first of the situations that may be disturbing us, then try to put the solution. A challenge that, although sometimes it seems very difficult, can be faced successfully.

Why do so many oral health professionals insist on the importance of night brushing, the one before going to bed?

As we already know, brushing teeth is the fundamental act for our oral hygiene, without forgetting other actions such as flossing or rinsing. We must do it 2-3 times a day, coinciding with the time after meals, with a duration that should not be less than two minutes in each of them. But it is especially important at night, since it will eliminate the remains of food and drinks that can cause damage to our teeth during the hours of sleep.

These are the main reasons why we should not skip that moment:

1. The bacteria are most active at night. It is during this period when the bacteria have more time to act and, by extension, to form the so-called bacterial plaque. Taking an average of 7 hours of sleep, it is possible to spend about 10 hours between brushing and brushing, those corresponding to after dinner and which should be performed after breakfast. That is why it is important to be frequent and constant with this practice of oral hygiene.
2. Lower PH level. When we sleep it is normal that the PH present in the mouth decreases, being a fundamental element for the neutralization of acids that are produced by the fermentation of food, which can be cause for the appearance of oral pathologies, of which the gums are inflamed or at the time of damaging the enamel.
3. The generation of saliva also falls. The organism’s own biological rhythm produces less saliva when we are sleeping, which conditions the aforementioned PH, which acts as an element of regulation and contributes to the demineralization of the teeth naturally.

 For the brushing to be really effective we must ensure that the brush is in good condition, with the bristles neither too hard nor excessively soft; Use fluoridated paste and complete the process with flossing and mouthwash.

The evident scientific and technological evolution of toothpastes leads us to observe in the market a wide range of options. The color, taste, texture, presentation and price are some of the parameters in the selection of toothpaste. Given the large number of ingredients used to make current toothpastes, these have generally been classified as follows.

Cleaning agents. Generally all products include detergent compounds that penetrate and lodge deposits on the surface of the tooth, favoring its elimination; the most common is sodium lauryl sulfate.

Agents that prevent cavities. Preventive dentistry considered essential the use of fluoride because it has been shown to protect against caries, in addition to?? Demineralize? The injuries once said evil has appeared. Most toothpastes include it.

Since fluoride should be administered in limited amounts to avoid negative effects, such as dental fluorosis; the current standard requires that the concentration of Luxor in a toothpaste does not exceed 0.2 percent.

There are studies that suggest limiting the fluoride content in products for children under six years of age to a maximum of 0.05 percent, or indicate that pasta with a higher fluoride content should be used in small amounts (one drop in size) and low the supervision of an adult. It is very important that the toothpaste is not used as a sweet tooth, since its intake can cause stomach problems.

Agents that prevent tartar. The most commonly used are pyrophosphates, which chemically interfere with the formation of tartar, as they block the receptor sites of the salts responsible for this process. However, it should be mentioned that the ant calculus agents do not eliminate the hardened deposits, which must be removed by professional cleaning.

Bacterial antiplaque agents. The plaque dentobacteriana is a colorless and sticky film that is constantly formed on the teeth and is the main cause of diseases of the gums, which can cause even the loss of teeth. That is why the constant removal of this film is of the utmost importance. Among the commercial antiplaque chemical agents is Triclosan, effective against a wide variety of bacteria.

Desensitizing agents. Hypersensitivity can occur in single or multiple sites. It is related to problems such as a dental fracture, new caries, and recurrence of the same or migration of the gum that exposes sensitive areas. To treat hypersensitivity, toothpastes may include potassium nitrate, sodium citrate and / or strontium chloride. For the prolonged use of these products it is advisable to supervise a dentist.

Polishing or bleaching agents. They are used to remove stains, the most frequently used being silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphates, among others. Useful for very pigmented dentures and should not be used when sensitive areas are exposed. Sodium bicarbonate can also act as a mild abrasive if used in sufficient concentration.

Other ingredients Flavoring agents such as peppermint, peppermint and other artificial sweeteners are included; there are also humectants that prevent the loss of water in the paste and gold’s that give body to the product, avoiding the separation of its components.

Do not leave all your treatment to your toothpaste, it is very important professional assessment, to tell you what is the personal requirement according to your health or dental diseases.