Changes in the climate are a big problem that affects many parts of our lives, including our oral health. Our planet’s changes, like shifting weather trends and more pollution, can have a big impact on our teeth and gums’ health. This is especially true for people who live in Washington, where climate change is having a big impact.
A family dentist in Puyallup, Washington, can see how these changes can affect patients’ oral health every day. Let us talk about how climate change can hurt our teeth and what we can do to keep them healthy.
Climate change has an effect on the water quality.
The quality of the water is one of the most important ways that climate change can hurt oral health. Bad germs and other toxins can get into water sources during extreme weather events like storms and droughts.
If you do not have easy access to clean drinking water, this polluted water can make tooth decay and gum disease more likely.
Climate change can also throw off the natural balance of chemicals in water, which can include fluoride. Tooth enamel stays strong, and cavities do not form because of fluoride.
However, climate change can change the way it rains, which can change the amount of fluoride in drinking water. This can make teeth more likely to get cavities.
Air pollution also has an impact on oral health.
Another problem that is getting worse because of climate change is air pollution. Things like smoke and particle matter can hurt the gums and make gum pain worse.
Air pollution can also make breathing problems like asthma worse, which can have a secondary effect on mouth health by making it harder to keep up with good oral care habits.
Rising temperatures cause the risks to rise as well.
Climate change is causing world temperatures to rise, which can also make it easier for diseases spread by mosquitoes. For example, malaria can cause tooth loss and mouth pain, which can be bad for your oral health.
How to protect your smile in a changing climate.
Even though climate change is a problem, here are some things we can do to protect our oral health:
Maintain a healthy diet
Eating a balanced diet full of calcium-rich fruits and vegetables helps keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Take care of your teeth
To get rid of plaque and stop cavities, you need to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss every day.
Go for regular visits to the dentist
Get your teeth cleaned and checked by the dentist regularly to find and treat any problems with your oral health as soon as possible.
Keep up with the news
Keep up with local water safety warnings and do what you need to do to stay safe, like boiling water if told to.
Support climate action
Push for laws and programs that fight climate change and make the world a better place for everyone.
These steps can help us protect our teeth better from the damage that climate change can cause.
Climate change is a global challenge.
Climate change is a big problem for oral health around the world because it raises the risks of water pollution, air pollution, and health in general. These problems are linked, which makes it more important to deal with them all at the same time.
Not everyone is affected by these health problems in the same way. This is especially true for poor people or people who live in rural places where they can not easily get medical care. So, it is very important to find long-lasting, fair answers.
By learning about how climate change affects oral health, rules and steps can be made to lower risks and improve everyone’s mouth health. For example, money could be spent on reducing air and water pollution and making healthcare more cheap.