Common Oral Diseases of Children 儿童常见口腔问题

Tooth decay refers to the loss of minerals from tooth structure caused by bacteria.

蛀牙是指因细菌而导致牙齿组织内的矿物质流失。

The tooth surfaces are normally covered with dental plaque. The bacteria in the dental plaque will metabolize the sugars in your food and produce acids which will demineralize the tooth surface.

一般来说，牙齿表面附着一层牙菌膜。每次进食时，牙菌膜的细菌会分解食物中的糖分，产生酸素，酸素侵害牙齿表层的组织，导致矿物质流失。

Saliva can reduce acid attacks towards teeth by neutralizing it and prevent further loss of minerals. However, it must have enough time for saliva to work.

口腔内的唾液可以中和酸素，阻止矿物质流失，不过唾液必须要有足够时间才可发挥作用。

If we eat and drink frequently, saliva will not have enough time to work. The minerals on tooth surface will continue to lose out, and then tooth decay may occur.

如果进食次数频密，唾液就不能有效发挥作用，牙齿表面的矿物质就会持续流失，形成蛀牙。

Decay usually occurs at enamel of the tooth. Early stage of tooth decay is usually painless and the tooth seems undamaged from naked eye. Therefore, it is difficult to notice the decay.

初期蛀牙的部位通常是在牙齿的珐琅质，患者没有任何不舒服的感觉，牙齿表面通常是完整，凭肉眼看是不见有蛀洞的，因此患者并不知道牙齿已经被蚀坏。

The early tooth decay can be restored by application of concentrated fluoride by dentist.

牙科医生可以在患有初期蛀牙的部位涂上高浓度的氟化物，修复初期蛀坏的部份。

When tooth decay spreads into dentine, a cavity may appear, and pain is felt when eating

吃冷、热、酸、甜食物时，患者可能会感到牙齿酸痛；此外，牙齿可能出现蛀洞。

Treatment:

治疗：

• A dental filling can be placed when the cavity is small and the bulk of the tooth remains sound.

• Crown can be placed when the cavity is widespread and the remaining tooth is weak.

  
  

• 蛀坏的范围不大，牙齿还很坚固，可进行补牙。

• 蛀坏的范围大，牙齿又很脆弱，可进行镶配人造牙冠。

At this stage, the carious cavity is obvious and cause severe pain. The pulp tissues are infected by the bacteria and may become inflamed or even necrotic. The bacteria may spread from the pulp to the tooth surrounding tissues via the apex of the tooth, leading to the formation of abscess.

产生剧痛，影响睡眠，即使吃止痛药也可能无法缓解痛楚。牙齿可能出现明显蛀洞，牙髓也可能受细菌感染，甚至坏死，细菌可能从牙髓经牙根部分扩散到附近的牙周组织，引致发炎，并可能产生脓肿。