Core Points - The article emphasizes the importance of brushing teeth at least twice a day to maintain oral health and prevent dental issues such as cavities and periodontal disease [4][6]. Group 1: Importance of Brushing Twice Daily - Oral health is threatened by two main enemies: cavities and periodontal disease, caused by bacteria that accumulate on teeth [4]. - Bacterial plaque formation occurs in stages, with significant maturation happening within 24 hours, making it crucial to brush at least twice daily to prevent plaque from becoming difficult to remove [5][6]. Group 2: Importance of Nighttime Brushing - Nighttime brushing is particularly important as it helps control the bacterial load on teeth, especially since saliva production decreases during sleep, reducing natural cleaning [9]. - Brushing at night effectively removes food residues accumulated throughout the day, which can feed bacteria and lead to tooth decay [10]. - Nighttime brushing helps eliminate dental plaque, reducing the risk of cavities and periodontal disease [11]. - It also mitigates oral odor caused by bacteria breaking down food residues, which can be more pronounced if brushing is skipped [12].

相信大家在小时候都听过这样一句话："少吃点糖，不然会蛀牙。"可是，在潜在的"蛀牙"威胁和香香甜甜的糖果之间，我们总会一边担惊受怕，一边毫不 犹豫地选择后者。在享受美食的同时，你有没有想过：大自然中的动物们想必应该不会刷牙，那它们会不会长蛀牙呢？ 人类龋齿斗争史 我们常说的"蛀牙"，医学上的称呼叫"龋（qǔ）齿"，指的是在外部环境的影响下，牙硬组织发生破坏的病变。 最开始的龋齿，可能只是牙齿上出现了一些病变的黑斑；再严重一些，牙齿上就会出现一个个蛀洞，就好像被虫子咬过一样，因此也被叫做"虫牙"。 龋齿发展到更严重的阶段，牙齿会整个脱落，甚至引发牙槽骨和颌骨的炎症。虽然并不是什么要命的绝症，却十分影响正常生活。可以说，人类从诞生 起，就在与龋齿作斗争。 早在距今50万年的北京猿人时期，考古学家们就发现了龋齿的化石。之后进入新石器时代，在距今1.8万年前的山顶洞人遗址中，也发现了曾经生有龋齿 的颌骨。 虽然先人也曾被龋齿困扰，不过当时的龋齿发病率并不算太高，患病率仅在3.8％～19.5%之间。直到近代，龋齿的发病率才开始节节攀升。在2017年第四 次全国口腔流行病学调查中，5岁组儿童的龋齿发病率高达70.9%。恐怕 ...