茶与口腔健康.doc

Tea and Oral Health Fact Sheet Introduction Dental disease remains a significant problem in the UK with a large number of the population suffering with the consequences of this disease at some stage in their lives. It can result in acute pain, aesthetic problems and can increase the risk of tooth loss, which may have long-term effects on food intake resulting in impaired nutritional status and subsequent overall well being. Damage to or loss of teeth may result from:- Dental caries Acid erosion Periodontal disease Dental Caries Caries is caused by bacterial acid production in tooth plaque, which can cause deep localized lesions if it remains too near the tooth for any length of time. If left the bacteria then may penetrate the tooth further and progress into the soft pulp tissue. Untreated dental caries can lead to incapacitating pain, potential tooth loss and loss of dental function. The development and progression of dental caries is due to a number of factors, specifically bacteria in the dental plaque (particularly Streptococcus mutans) on susceptible tooth surfaces and the availability of fermentable carbohydrates. The prevalence of dental decay in children in the UK has fallen significantly since the 1970’s mainly as a result of the introduction of fluoridated toothpaste and fluoridation of water supplies. Nevertheless dental caries still remains a significant problem in some parts of the UK. Acid Erosion The damage to teeth from acid erosion is now thought to be a significant contributor to dental disease. Erosion arises from acid derived from foods and drinks, or regurgitations from the stomach, which repeatedly wash over the teeth and result in shallower but more widespread lesions. Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease results from inflammation of the gum (gingivitis) that gradually causes destruction of the bone supporting the teeth. Gingivitis usually results from infection from debris that has accumulated at crevices at the base of the teeth. Althou