The recommendation is to brush teeth at least three times a day and always after meals. But the practice has been quite different, according to the National Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The data shows that about 90% of the population brushes their teeth, at most, twice a day.
Dentist Marlei Bonella states that this level of neglect regarding oral hygiene is alarming. "The lack of proper tooth brushing favors the emergence of problems such as cavities and even periodontitis," she said, who serves as the clinical director of IOS Instituto Odontológico.
According to the professional, in the long term, the lack of proper dental hygiene can even lead to tooth loss. The survey itself confirms this. According to the research information, 25% of people aged 45 to 59, and another segment of 28% aged between 60 and 74, have lost 13 or more teeth.
"Once we lose a tooth, the solution is to use a prosthesis or implant. These are safe and viable alternatives that dentistry offers today for the patient, but the best thing is always to avoid reaching the stage of loss," added Marlei Bonella.
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