Tooth decay

With more and more effective remedies in hand, Su Ziyang also had more patients suffering from toothaches.

Even many children came, brought by their parents, mainly to see a dentist about cavities.

Seeing the cavities in the child's teeth, Su Ziyang couldn't help but marvel at how much better living conditions had become.

Tooth decay, that is, a hole or cavity in a tooth, commonly known as cavities or tooth decay.

This situation is caused by a person's excessive love of sweets.

The currently accepted theory of dental caries etiology is the four-factor theory.

This mainly includes bacteria, the oral environment, the host (i. e., parasites, including parasites, viruses, and other organisms that live on it), and time.

The basic point is that cariogenic food sugars (especially sucrose and refined carbohydrates) adhere tightly to the tooth surface, forming an acquired membrane composed of salivary proteins.

This acquired lamina not only adheres firmly to the tooth surface, but also has sufficient time and temperature to produce acid deep within the plaque, attacking the tooth, demineralizing it, and subsequently destroying the organic matter, resulting in cavities.

This is a finding from modern medicine, that is, Western medicine.

Having read this, we must acknowledge the greatness of traditional medicine passed down from our ancestors. In fact, as early as ancient times, people were already clearly aware of the causes of tooth decay.

In modern medicine, research suggests that cariogenic sugars (especially sucrose and refined carbohydrates) are a contributing factor.

In ancient times, these kinds of sugary foods, such as refined carbohydrates, were collectively referred to as "fatty and sweet."

Therefore, there is an old saying, "If a person eats too much rich and sweet food, their teeth will break and ache, as if they are crawling around in pain; this is the pain caused by worms."

Why did the ancients call this "insect pain"? Some Xiaohei are probably about to start criticizing again.

"Oh dear, that's all feudal superstition. Where are the bugs? I can't see any! There aren't any bugs, yet you insist there are. Feudal superstition is unscientific!"

To this kind of person, I can only say, you're blind.

Seeing this saying from the ancients makes me admire their wisdom even more.

The ancients said, "It's caused by insects."

Modern research says it's bacteria, fungal spots.

Aren't fungi just another kind of insect?

In addition, the ancients believed that excessive consumption of "rich and sweet" foods would generate heat, and the stomach fire would rush into the mouth and onto the teeth. Combined with dampness, this would cause tooth decay.

The insects mentioned here are what modern medicine calls bacteria.

Then the ancients said that over time, this stuff will accumulate and then erode the teeth.

It's actually just bacteria fermenting, which over time forms a bacterial stain.

This is an ancient study on the causes of tooth decay, which almost perfectly matches the modern, accepted four-factor theory.

Of course, I'm not using things from the ancients to apply to modern things, because that would be an insult to the wisdom of the ancients.

I just want to say that the ancients were very wise. The medical problems you think you have solved now were all studied by the ancients, and they had already provided very good solutions.

It's just that modern people, thinking themselves clever, blindly follow others and ignore this.

To shut some people up, I really need to write a few more words.

I'm not blindly worshipping the past. Nowadays, if you say that the ancients were awesome, someone will say that you're blindly worshipping the past.

Do you know how miserable life was for people in ancient times? You just admire the past.

If that's your point, then I have nothing to say.

Alright, enough of that. Let's get back to the tooth decay that Su Ziyang was treating.

The prescription given by the ancients was an external treatment, meaning it was for rinsing the mouth.

"I'll prescribe some medicine for the child to control it and prevent it from getting worse. Once the child's permanent teeth come in, we'll make sure to pay close attention to oral hygiene, and that should be fine! Okay?"

Su Ziyang said to the child's mother.

"Okay, okay! That's great, as long as it lasts until my baby teeth come in. That would be wonderful!"

The child's mother was very content and urged Su Ziyang to get the medicine quickly.

Five-spice powder (9g, finely ground)

Baiwei (9g)

Asarum (2g)

Drynaria fortunei (2g)

The above four ingredients should be ground into a fine powder.

"I'll make you a few extra portions of this medicine powder. Use it like this: Have your child brush their teeth thoroughly, then rinse their mouth with warm water. Mix the powder into a thin paste, then let them hold it in their mouth. Do this once a day for three consecutive days. Just rinsing is enough; make sure the child doesn't swallow it!"

Su Ziyang was afraid that others wouldn't understand, so he explained it several times before letting the mother and child leave. Every time he used this prescription, Su Ziyang would give them many instructions.

They were afraid the child was too young and would swallow the medicine.

As mentioned before, if you know the name and cause of a disease, then there is a high probability that the disease can be cured.

So, the toothache is also caused by fire, as mentioned before. Well then, putting out the fire will solve the problem.

Since the tooth decay is caused by worms (bacteria), then killing the worms will solve the problem.

Therefore, this prescription uses the herbs Wulingzhi and Baiwei, because these two herbs are most effective at killing insects silently.

Toothache is always caused by internal heat, so asarum is added to clear away the heat, and asarum also has analgesic effects.

The bone-penetrating herb, Drynaria fortunei, guides the five-spice powder and white peony root directly into the bone, thus effectively eliminating worms inside and outside the teeth.

After treating this child's cavity, another parent arrived with their child.

However, this child's situation is different from the previous child's; this tooth has rotted all the way to the root.

Su Ziyang never imagined that he would one day be working as a dentist.

"Mom, this tooth can't be treated with traditional Chinese medicine anymore. Since your child is about to lose their baby teeth, let's just have it pulled."

After examining the patients, Su Ziyang provided a solution.

"That's what they told me when I went to the dentist before, and they wanted me to have the tooth pulled. I heard that you don't need to pull the tooth; you can relieve the pain with Chinese medicine. That's why I came to give it a try!"

The child's mother stated her request.

"It's easy to stop the pain; you can take painkillers. But there's really no need to keep it."

Su Ziyang said with a smile.

"Can you extract this tooth?"

The child's mother asked.

"Able!"

Su Ziyang nodded.

Is it expensive?

"30 yuan."

"OK!"

In reality, most people succumb to the high cost of dental treatment.

Small, private dental clinics might offer slightly cheaper treatments, but anywhere even remotely connected to major cities, dental care is exceptionally expensive.

The mother agreed so quickly that Su Ziyang realized she must have come because dental work was too expensive.

Reality is reality, and sometimes we have to admit that even a hero can be brought down by a lack of money.

The substance Su Ziyang used to pull his tooth was the white powder that Master Yang Tianzheng had gotten from the old man at the market.

Su Ziyang took out a small toothpick, gently scraped the root of the child's tooth, and then applied medicine. Before long, the remaining tooth root fell out.

"Okay! After your baby teeth come in, remember to use dental hygiene products! Okay? When you get home, throw the teeth in the big hole. That way, the new teeth will grow in faster!"

Su Ziyang patted the child's head.

There's a saying in rural areas that when children are losing their baby teeth, the upper teeth should be thrown into the ditch, and the lower teeth should be thrown on the roof.

Because the upper teeth grow downwards, this symbolizes that the new teeth will grow quickly and straight.

Although many of these claims lack concrete evidence, Su Ziyang still felt that having a saying or a lucky omen was better than having none at all.

This way, people will have a traditional concept, a sense of awe, and a longing.

This thing, like a festival, contains many profound meanings.

For example, when a tooth falls out, it actually represents the parents' expectations for their child, hoping that the tooth will grow straight and well.

Another benefit is the interaction between parents and children. When a child loses a tooth, it can easily cause shyness or fear. With this explanation from the parents, the child's worries during their growth will be greatly reduced.

After work, Fairy Li had some free time, which was unusual for her.

So Su Ziyang and Fairy Li made an appointment to go for a walk and shop at the mall.

The two strolled around for a while, found a place to eat, and Su Ziyang received a call from Mr. Mengfei.

"Master, are you done with your work?"

Su Ziyang greeted him.

"Yeah. I have to go back even if I'm not finished. I'll go see Lao Jin off."

Mr. Mengfei's voice on the phone was calm and unhurried, but one sentence made Su Ziyang furious. Su Ziyang was terrified when Daoist Jin time before.

Hearing Mr. Mengfei say that, Su Ziyang suddenly felt even more comfortable.

"What do you mean? Sending Master Jin? Why would you send him away? What happened to him? Is he still making house calls today?"

Su Ziyang panicked a little, put his chopsticks on the table, and lost his appetite.

Upon seeing Su Ziyang's expression, Fairy Li stopped eating and sat quietly watching Su Ziyang.

Because Su Ziyang had just been very emotional and loud, everyone eating in the shop looked at Su Ziyang. Fairy Li gently squeezed Su Ziyang's hand, signaling Su Ziyang to calm down.

"You brat, what are you yelling about? What are you getting so worked up about? Didn't Lao Jin tell you? We'll talk when I get back. Why have you become so unsteady after just a few days? I'll be there tomorrow!"

Mr. Mengfei hung up the phone immediately. Su Ziyang felt much more relaxed after hearing Mr. Mengfei's curses. Going to see Daoist Jin shouldn't be a bad thing at least.

"What's wrong, Susu?"

Seeing that Su Ziyang had hung up the phone, Fairy Li Su Ziyang quickly grabbed his hand and asked.

"Master said he was going to see Master Jin off, but he didn't know where Master Jin was going."

After Su Ziyang said that, Fairy Li seemed to understand a little. "Ah! It should be alright. Daoist Jin will be fine. Are you scared?"

Su Ziyang didn't speak, but nodded.

Su Ziyang Su Ziyang frightened by Master Bian and Master Luo before, which is why he is so scared.

"Let's eat! We'll talk after we eat. Trust me, everything will be fine!"

Fairy Li smiled and said.