7 Most Common Dental Problems

Dental problems are a common issue that many people have to deal with. When you’re experiencing issues with your teeth, it can be hard to know where to turn to for help. Luckily, you can reach out and consult with a dentist near you for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Prevention is better than cure. It’s better to know if you’re experiencing any oral-related issues now so that early treatment can be carried out. Wondering what are some of the most common dental problems that afflict a large number of individuals? Read below to learn more.

  • Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems. It can occur at any age and can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated by your dentist.

What is tooth decay? It’s a breakdown of the tooth enamel due to the accumulation of bacteria on the surface of your teeth. Bacteria produce acids that attack the enamel and cause decay, which starts at the outer layer of your tooth and slowly works its way inside your tooth.

The main culprits of tooth decay are sugar and starches, which are found in many foods you eat daily. When these foods are consumed frequently, they give the bacteria on your teeth an opportunity to produce acid and eat away at your enamel.

  • Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a condition that causes the gums to become inflamed and irritated. You may notice red, swollen, and bleeding gums if you have gingivitis.

Your mouth has millions of bacteria that are usually harmless. Nevertheless, they can cause trouble when they’re allowed to grow unchecked in your mouth. Bacteria produce plaque, a sticky substance that adheres to your teeth and builds up along the gum line.

Plaque is made up of food particles and saliva, so it isn’t visible until it turns into tartar or calcified deposits on the teeth.

  • Mouth Sores

Mouth sore is one of the most common dental problems, affecting people of all ages. A mouth sore can be caused by various factors like eating spicy food, biting your cheek or tongue, tooth decay, or gum disease. They can be caused by many things, including:

  • Infection: An infection in the mouth can cause a sore on your tongue or gums. Bacteria or a virus might cause the condition.
  • Allergies: Some foods and other substances, such as toothpaste, may cause an allergic reaction that causes your mouth to become inflamed.
  • Stress: Stress can lead to dry mouth syndrome, in which there’s less saliva produced in the mouth than usual. This can cause mouth sores or worsen if you already have them.
  • Medications: Some medications, including antibiotics, birth control pills, and steroids, can cause mouth sores if taken over long periods or if they’re taken at high doses.

Mouth sores can be painful and irritating for you, yet they’re also a sign that there’s something wrong with your oral health. They often occur when there’s an infection in the gums or mouth tissue. It’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible if you have a mouth sore, as it could lead to other more serious conditions if left untreated.

  • Enamel Erosion

The enamel is the outermost layer of your teeth that protects them from decay and erosion. Once you lose it, you can’t get it back.

Enamel erosion refers to the gradual wearing away of this protective layer of your teeth. It can happen on any tooth surface, but it’s most common on the biting surfaces of your molars.

Enamel erosion can affect anyone, but it’s more likely to affect those who have other health issues or who take certain medications. This occurs when they come into contact with acidic foods and beverages. The acid causes a chemical reaction that dissolves the enamel and dentin, the second layer of your teeth, underneath. If left untreated, this can lead to tooth sensitivity, discoloration, and even tooth loss.

  • Impacted Teeth

Impacted teeth are caused when a tooth is unable to erupt into its normal position in the mouth because it is blocked by other teeth, bone, or gum tissue. It can occur in any tooth but is most commonly found in the upper jaw (maxillary), below the eye (mandibular), and on the roof of the mouth (palatine).

Impacted teeth can be caused by:

  • An improper bite, which prevents a tooth from erupting into its normal position;
  • A genetic disorder that causes an extra bone to grow around a developing tooth, blocking it from erupting into its normal position;
  • Trauma to a young child’s mouth, which may damage developing teeth or prevent them from growing normally;
  • Tumors that cause abnormal bone growth around developing teeth; and the like.

If you have an impacted tooth, this can cause problems later on in life because it may cause your other teeth to shift out of alignment or even become damaged by the pressure from the impacted tooth.

  • Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a severe and potentially destructive dental disease that affects the tissue surrounding the teeth. It’s characterized by inflammation of the gums and bone that supports the teeth and can cause the teeth to loosen and fall out if left untreated.

Periodontitis often occurs due to poor oral hygiene, but it can be linked to genetics, smoking, and other factors as well.

While periodontitis can affect anyone, it’s most common among adults over age 30. The disease progresses slowly over time, so you may not notice any symptoms until your teeth start to shift or become loose in your mouth.

Treatment of periodontitis generally involves scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), which removes plaque built up on your teeth, and sometimes surgery to repair bone loss around the affected area.

  • Bruxism

Bruxism is an oral condition that causes the teeth to clench or grind together while sleeping. It’s often called ‘teeth grinding’ or ‘tooth clenching,’ yet these terms are inaccurate because they don’t accurately describe the condition.

Bruxism occurs when a person unconsciously moves their jaw muscles during sleep, causing the lower teeth to rub against the upper teeth. This can also happen when you’re awake, especially if you hold stress in your jaw muscles.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know these common problems, it’s time to take action. Don’t let your teeth and gums suffer. Get in touch with a dentist today. The sooner you do so, the easier it’ll be on your teeth and gums.

 

Signs That You Need Emergency Dental Care

Some people fear visiting dentists because of the equipment, the environment, and the pain associated with a dental procedure. However, some instances call for immediate attention, whether you’re phobic or not. 

Failing to visit a dentist during an emergency increases the risk of further complications. The condition might develop into a more severe infection that’s painful and costly to treat. In some cases, you might lose teeth, interfering with related functions such as chewing and speech.

The following are some top signs that you need emergency dental care.

Bleeding gums

Healthy gums don’t bleed unless subjected to aggressive brushing, flossing, or severe impact. If you see blood when brushing or chewing some foods, it’s time to visit a dentist. 

Bleeding is a sign of gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. Other symptoms include aching and swollen gums. You might also notice an unpleasant smell when flossing.

Gum disease is treatable at its earlier stages. However, if ignored, it can cause severe damage to your gums, teeth, and jawline. Therefore, don’t postpone your dental appointment if you notice any of the abovementioned indicators!

 

Growths and Canker Sores

It’s advisable to visit your dentist whenever you notice a growth inside your mouth, whether painful or not. A continuous growth or canker sore is usually a sign of oral cancer. 

Your dentist will perform the necessary tests to ascertain whether the tumor is cancerous. If the results are positive, you can start your treatment right away and increase the chances of remission. Remember that most cancers are treatable if detected early.

 

Unexpected Tooth Loss

You can lose your teeth unexpectedly due to an accident. If this happens, do not touch the root; only touch the crown if your tooth gets knocked out. If it’s still intact, try to reposition it into its socket. Otherwise, please place it in a container with milk until you reach a dental clinic. This keeps the tooth alive.

For bleeding, compress a cold, wet and sterile cloth until you get medical care.

 

Dental Abscesses

Dental abscesses cause severe pain. They’re usually signs of extensive bacterial infection and advanced gum disease. Abscesses manifest in several ways, including fever, bad taste in the mouth, and pus. 

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, you need emergency dental care. The doctor will perform surgery so that the infection doesn’t metastasize to other parts. However, invasive procedures are avoidable if you visit your dentists for routine check-ups before extensive inflammation.   

 

Recurrent Headaches

Most people associate headaches with fatigue, stress, or sicknesses. However, recurrent headaches could be an indicator of an underlying oral complication.

Because your jaw is connected to your skull, you’re likely to experience pain if the former has complications. For example, teeth grinding can cause recurrent headaches. The most common signs of this involuntary condition are increased oral sensitivity and worn-out enamels. 

 

Soft Tissue Injury

A severe impact can cause soft tissue injuries inside your mouth, such as cuts and bites. Leaving such wounds exposed increases your susceptibility to infections.

When you get a soft tissue injury, clean the affected area with warm water. Apply a cold compress to stop bleeding and seek emergency dental care.

 

Final Words

If you have the symptoms discussed above, it’s vital to call your dentist immediately. During the call, explain your symptoms in detail. Conduct any first aid measures you can before reaching the hospital, such as preserving a knocked-out tooth and stopping bleeding.

Many clinics like Lux Dental Clinic offer same-day appointments for unexpected dental emergencies. Dental professionals have the experience and training necessary to identify the root cause of pain and provide qualified treatment options for relieving it.

While accidents are inevitable, you can lower the risk of most dental complications by observing proper oral care habits. Brush and floss regularly, check what you eat and drink, and visit your dentist every six months. 

4 Ways to Maintain Good Oral Health

Oral health is when you are free from any form of mouth pain, tooth loss, oral infection, gum disease and all the other diseases that have the capability of hindering one’s ability to speak, smile, chew or even bite.  Some key oral health facts according to the World Health Organization;

•    60-90% of all school children worldwide and nearly 100% of adults all have dental cavities

•    Severe gum diseases that lead to tooth loss are found in 15-20% of middle-aged adults

•    30% of people who are between 65 and 74 have no natural teeth

The major causes of these conditions are very harmful intake of alcohol, unhealthy diet, poor oral hygiene excessive tobacco use, and many other determinates. It is also a key fact from WHO that bad oral health is most common among children and adults who are poor or disadvantaged. There are a lot of ways to maintain good oral health and prevent cavities but below are 4 of them;

1.    Maintain a constant level of fluoride in the oral cavity

The presence of Fluoride is necessary for the oral cavity because it stops demineralization which causes cavities. But when there is a constant intake of products that can help boost the presence of fluoride (which causes remineralization), this strengthens the teeth and the enamels start getting resistant, which prevents the decay process. Constantly taking fluoridated drinking water, fluoridated mouth rinse, salt, toothpaste, and milk can help build the fluoride level.

2.    Ensure Proper Oral Hygiene

The most common way to ensure proper oral hygiene is by brushing regularly and as recommended by your dentist. But in truth, if you can’t brush as frequently as some dentists say, you can try to brush at least twice every day. If you can, then try brushing after every meal. There are manually operated toothbrushes and electronic toothbrushes, but choices vary based on personal preferences. Reviews can be checked on the best manually operated toothbrushes and best electronic toothbrushes, to help with our decisions. As it is not always easy for people to keep track of their brushing habits, there are electronic brushes that come with the added functionality of keeping track of our brushing habits. What we put into our mouths have the most effect, coffee and tobacco, for instance, are known to stain the teeth; so proper care is necessary to reduce or even prevent these stains.

If oral hygiene is neglected, the risk of sugar bugs will be prevalent. Sugar bugs, also known as dental caries or cavities, are a common problem when bacteria in the mouth consume sugar and other carbohydrates, producing acid that attacks the tooth enamel. This can lead to the development of small holes or cavities in the teeth.

Keep in mind that when sugar bugs are not treated accordingly, they can lead to more serious problems, such as tooth loss, abscesses, and infections. To treat sugar bugs, a dentist will typically clean the affected area and fill the cavity with a unique filling material. However, a root canal or tooth extraction may be necessary in more severe cases.

Sugar bugs are a common and preventable dental problem that you can avoid by maintaining good oral hygiene and eating a nutritious diet. If you are concerned about sugar bugs or have other dental health concerns, it’s essential to visit a dentist for a check-up and treatment as needed.

3.    Increase intake of fruits and vegetables

Regular intake of fruits and vegetables helps provide our system with nutrients that are necessary for healthy teeth and oral health. Calcium helps make not only our bones but our teeth stronger and Vitamin D helps our body get the necessary amount of calcium that is needed. So, in whatever you do, for healthy teeth/gum, for improved dental and oral health; fruits and vegetables are necessary. Sugar, alcohol, and tobacco should be cut down because apart from discoloring of the teeth, they can cause tooth decay, tooth loss, oral decay, gum disease, and many more.

It’s worth noting that fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that help keep teeth and gums healthy. They also contain fiber, which can help clean the teeth and stimulate saliva production. Remember that saliva is a natural mouth rinse that helps to neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

4.    Always wear protective gear

It is always advisable to use protective gear if you are involved in any kind of sporting activity to help reduce facial injuries that may harm the teeth. Also when in an environment that is somewhat unsafe such as factories, we should ensure we have the appropriate protective facial gear.

With strict adherence to these practices listed above, dental and oral health will be improved. But it is also much advised to visit a dentist regularly for check-ups and other professional tips

 

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