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。

Treatment: 

治疗：

• Pulp treatment, and followed by filling, or crown, depending on the condition of the remaining tooth structure. 

• If pulp treatment is not appropriate, an extraction will be necessary.

• 进行牙髓治疗(杜牙根)，如有需要，会镶配人造牙冠。

• 如果牙科医生认为患牙不适合施行牙髓治疗，就需要拔牙。

The decayed cavity emits unpleasant odour and causes bad breath. This directly affects the normal social life.

蛀坏部份会发出异味，导致口臭，直接影响日常的社交生活。

Tooth decay may lead to persistent pain, which may not be controlled by painkiller, and therefore affects one's appetite, studies, work and sleep.

蛀牙可能会带来持续不断的疼痛，即使吃止痛药也不能缓解痛楚，因而影响食欲、学业、工作和睡眠。

When there is severe tooth decay, the bacteria may spread from the pulp to the tooth surrounding tissues via the apex of the tooth, leading to the formation of abscess. 

蛀牙严重时，细菌甚至可能从牙髓经根尖孔扩散到邻近的牙周组织，引致发炎并产生脓肿。

If a tooth is severely damaged, and even pulp treatment is not applicable, an extraction is then necessary. After extraction, the neighbouring teeth may shift towards the empty space and cause malocclusion.

当蛀牙严重至牙髓治疗也无法补救时就必需把牙齿拔除。牙齿给拔除后，邻近的牙齿就有机会移向缺牙空隙，造成牙齿移位。

Fluoride strengthens the teeth by increasing their resistance to acid attack. Fluoride also facilitates minerals to re-enter the teeth (remineralization) and helps restore early tooth decay. Therefore, you should brush in the morning and before bed at night with fluoride toothpaste.

Photograph of a child brushing his teeth in the morning and before bed at night. 

Regular dental check-up

氟化物可以巩固牙齿，使牙齿不易受酸素侵袭；氟化物亦有助流失的矿物质返回牙齿，使初期蛀牙得以修复。所以，应每天早上起床及晚上睡前用含氟化物的牙膏刷牙。

Have regular dental check-up at least once a year so that tooth decay. can be diagnosed at an early stage. Preventive dental treatments such as fissure sealants can be applied.

每年定期检查口腔

每年至少一次到牙科医生检查口腔，以便及早发现蛀牙，并按需要接受预防蛀牙的治疗，例如用窝沟封闭剂把牙齿表面的纹沟封闭。