In daily life, we often overlook the importance of oral health, and only realize the necessity of oral care when we experience toothache, gum bleeding, or other oral problems. The oral cavity is an important component of the body, and good oral health is not only related to our chewing, swallowing, and speech functions, but also closely related to overall health. Today, let’s delve into the secrets of oral health and learn how to properly care for our mouth.

1、 Oral structure and function
The oral cavity is a complex and intricate system composed of multiple parts such as teeth, gums, tongue, palate, and salivary glands.

Teeth are the hardest tissue in the oral cavity, divided into two parts: crowns and roots. Dental crowns are exposed in the oral cavity and are mainly used for chewing food; The tooth root is embedded in the alveolar bone, serving to fix the teeth. The surface of teeth is covered with a hard layer of enamel, which can protect them from bacteria and acidic substances. However, if oral hygiene is not taken seriously, enamel may be damaged, leading to the occurrence of dental caries.
Gum is a soft tissue that surrounds the root of teeth, providing support and nutrition for the teeth. Healthy gums are pink in color and have a tough texture. When the gums are infected or stimulated by bacteria, symptoms such as redness, bleeding, and pain may occur, which is called gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated in a timely manner, it may develop into periodontitis, leading to alveolar bone resorption, tooth loosening, and even loss.
The tongue plays an important role in stirring food, assisting swallowing, and pronunciation in the oral cavity. At the same time, the taste buds on our tongue can also allow us to taste various delicious foods.
The palate is divided into hard palate and soft palate. The hard palate is located in the front and is mainly composed of bones; The soft palate is located in the posterior part and is mainly composed of muscles and mucous membranes. The palate plays a crucial role in swallowing and pronunciation.
Saliva glands secrete saliva, which not only lubricates the mouth and helps digest food, but also has antibacterial and cleaning effects.

（1） Dental caries: Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is one of the most common oral diseases. It is formed by bacteria in the oral cavity decomposing food residues to produce acidic substances, which erode the enamel on the surface of teeth for a long time. Early dental caries may not have obvious symptoms, but as the condition progresses, problems such as tooth pain, sensitivity, and cavities may occur.
（2） Periodontal diseases: Periodontal diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is mainly characterized by redness, swelling, bleeding, and pain in the gums. If gingivitis is not treated in a timely manner, inflammation will further develop into deeper tissues, forming periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to alveolar bone resorption, periodontal pocket formation, tooth loosening, and even loss.
（3） Oral mucosal diseases: There are various types of oral mucosal diseases, such as oral ulcers, oral leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, etc. Oral ulcer is one of the most common oral mucosal diseases, characterized by circular or oval ulcers in the mouth, with obvious pain. Oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus are precancerous lesions, and if left untreated, they may develop into oral cancer.
（4） Dental malformation: Dental malformation includes misaligned teeth, misaligned bite, etc. Tooth deformities not only affect aesthetics, but may also lead to decreased chewing function, difficulty in oral cleaning, and an increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease.
（5） Oral cancer: Oral cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the oral mucosal tissue, and common sites of onset include the lips, tongue, gums, palate, etc. Long term smoking, alcohol consumption, chewing betel nut, and poor oral hygiene are all risk factors for oral cancer.

4、 Daily care for oral health
（1） Proper brushing: Brush your teeth in the morning and evening every day, with a minimum brushing time of 2 minutes each time. Choose the appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste, the bristles of the toothbrush should be soft, and the toothpaste should be selected according to individual oral conditions. When brushing teeth, use the Babbitt brushing method, pointing the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth’s long axis towards the root tip. Follow the gum tooth junction area, so that a part of the bristles enter the gingival sulcus and the other part is spread on the gingival margin, and try to extend into the adjacent space as much as possible. Use gentle pressure to make the bristles vibrate horizontally in a short distance in the anterior posterior direction 4-5 times in situ. When shaking, the toothbrush moves about 1 millimeter, brushing only 2-3 teeth at a time, then moving the toothbrush to the next set of teeth, and finally cleaning all teeth in the mouth.
（2） Using dental floss and mouthwash: Dental floss can effectively clean plaque and food residue on adjacent teeth, and using dental floss once a day can supplement the deficiency of brushing teeth. Mouthwash has the functions of sterilization, anti-inflammatory, and refreshing breath, but it cannot replace brushing teeth and dental floss. It should be used reasonably under the guidance of a doctor.
（3） Regular oral examination: It is recommended to have an oral examination every six months to one year to promptly detect and treat oral diseases. Children and the elderly should increase their examination frequency appropriately.
（4） Reasonable diet: Reduce the intake of sweets and carbonated drinks, and eat more foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.
（5） Smoking cessation and alcohol restriction: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of oral cancer and should be avoided as much as possible.