Thursday Brief

On Covid- So now Delhi has a dubious distinction of having maximum number of cases in Indian city, yesterday Delhi surpassed Mumbai in number of cases in one city. Still in case of deaths Mumbai is leading Delhi by almost 1000 deaths. It looks like political capital and commercial capital of the country are fighting for top spot, as in both the cities the cases on day to day basis are rising rapidly, one may say the rate of number of daily cases  has started showing little downward trend sometimes in Mumbai but in case of Delhi, it is showing an upward trend. The problem in both the cities are sometimes identical, both of them first started giving emphasis on the control in slums/jhugi jhopdi areas, and they neglected regular residential areas, where upper and middle class people are staying. As soon as relaxation in lockdown conditions were announced and within few days the number of cases started increasing from residential colonies and high rise buildings, as most of the people living in these areas started taking the situation lightly, hence this situation in both the cities.

Now turning to my other topic of the day- Now with advancing age oral health issues crops up. The few of the issues that are seen as darkened teeth, dry mouth, diminishing taste senses, root decays, loss of tooth, gum problems, and even denture related issue if one is using the same. Hence caring for the teeth is something every citizen and specially senior citizen should take seriously.

Oral Hygiene Tips– Plaque can build up very fast on the teeth and hence it is essential to keep the teeth and mouth clean by brushing twice a day. Toothpaste with fluoride of with natural herbs can help in keeping tooth decay away. Rinse your mouth after consuming any food, as food particles can stuck up in the teeth, this should be done even if you are wearing dentures. You may also try rinsing with an antiseptic  mouth wash, twice a day for better oral health. Apart from this , one must visit the dentist at least once in 6 months. This can help in spotting any issues early and get the treatment started. Dentist may do a thorough examination of many oral problems, especially if you have any symptom. Also, if any built up has happened, the dentist can do one round of cleaning.

If Using Dentures– It is essential to follow the oral hygiene for the mouth even if you are using dentures. The dentures should be removed and brushed nicely and kept in denture solution. Also, mouth and gums should be rinsed using mouthwash or antiseptic solution as suggested by dentist. The gums need to be brushed too, with a soft tooth brush.

Other Issues– Apart from all this, one other issue that can trouble anyone, is the bad breath. Sometimes the bad breath emanating from mouth is so bad that the people are taken aback. Finding oneself in such a situation is very unpleasant. Many factors like poor digestion, sinus issues, diabetes, and certain medications, apart from the foods that you have eaten, can cause bad breath. With diabetes, there could be extra glucose on your teeth and gums, leading to germs, and thus infections leading to bad breath. Mucus caused by sinus may lead to breeding of germs, which leads to the bad breath in your mouth. Apart from this foods like onion, garlic, coffee etc are a big giveaway of bad breath.

You may also have bad breath, if you have dry mouth. Dry mouth brings saliva production in the  mouth to a halt and thus aids bad breath. Another big factor causing the bad odour is smoking or chewing tobacco. There are many awareness programs that tell us about the harmful effects of tobacco, whether chewing or smoking, including cancer. Also, these two habits can cause terrible breath as well, can even stain teeth. Hence, one should avoid the same or ensure to rinse with good mouthwash then.

So these are few oral hygiene tips, which will prolong your teeth’s life.

Awaiting your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

25^th June 2020