On the afternoon of August 18, Famous Doctors Lectures Series, a popular science lecture hosted by SCIMEA, was held for the fourth time. Yin Wei, deputy director of the Department of Oral Disease Prevention, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, was invited to give a lecture. Dr. Yin shared with the audience on the topic of "Good Habits Help Healthy Teeth Growth".

Five sharp questions on tooth care

1.   Why do I have tooth decay even though I brush my teeth every day and never eat candies?

2.   If I break my tooth, do I have no choice but to pull it out and implant one?

3.   Do children need to clean their teeth, too?

4.   We can’t get our teeth very clean even though we use electric tooth brushes. Why?

5.   What’s the best age for orthodontics?

Yin Wei, deputy director of the Department of Oral Disease Prevention, West China Hospital

Starting with these five questions, Dr. Yin talked about the human tooth structure, changing teeth, tooth decay, how to deal with broken teeth, children's dental examinations, etc., and shared with the audience on various dental problems that children will encounter on their way to growth and countermeasures.

On changing tooth and tooth decay

After birth, we will have two sets of teeth called deciduous and permanent teeth.

"It's easy to remember these two names: deciduous teeth, which are related to drinking milk, means children’s teeth. Permanent teeth, which means everlasting, refer to teeth that will grow out for replacement and will accompany us for the rest of our lives." Dr. Yin told us that vast majority of children change their teeth around the age of six, a time that needs special attention.

Dr. Yin told us that parents can choose to take their children to the hospital for pit and fissure sealing, which is the best way to prevent tooth decay!

Pit and fissure sealing to effectively prevent tooth decay

On pit and fissure sealing 

The pit and fissure sealing material is applied to pit and fissure of the crown’s occlusal surface and buccal and tongue surface. When it flows and penetrates the pit and fissure, it solidifies and hardens to form a protective barrier covering the pit and fissure, which can protect the tooth from attack of carcinogenic bacteria and acidic metabolites, and thus prevent the forming of pit and fissure caries.

The best way to brush our teeth

The dirt between the teeth is difficult to clean and it can easily lead to dental disease. Regular tooth brush can remove 70% of the dental plaque in maximum.

Dental floss, interdental brush, toothpick, tongue cleaning, regular teeth cleaning, etc. are all necessary measures to help clean our teeth~

How to deal with broken tooth?

In their growth, trauma is one of the main causes of anterior teeth defects and loss in adolescents.

Dr. Yin suggested that when the teeth are completely detached, the following emergency measures should be taken:

1. Find your tooth and only hold the crown. 2. Rinse it with water or milk. Don’t brush it in any case. 3. Put it in milk or under the tongue and go to the hospital for further treatment as soon as possible.

On-site Q & A

"Why do I still have big gap among my teeth even though I don't use toothpicks?"

"Why does my gingiva bleed even though I eat fruits every day?  Is it periodontitis?"

In the on-site Q&A, many parents and children asked questions, which were patiently answered by Dr. Yin.

Audience listen to the lecture attentively.

At the end of the lecture, Dr. Yin takes a group photo with audience.

Yin Wei

Deputy director of Department of Oral Disease Prevention, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Doctor of Stomatology, deputy chief physician. Visiting scholar of Loma Linda University. Project director of National Natural Science Foundation of China. Member of the Standing Committee of the Oral Health Branch of the Sichuan Preventive Medicine Association. Deputy chief of the Technical Group of the Sichuan Children's Oral Diseases Comprehensive Prevention Project. His main direction in oral disease prevention and risk management. Specialized in early diagnosis, preventive treatment, minimally invasive repair of caries and modern root canal treatment including those of children.

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