Your smile is one of the first attributes someone will notice about you. To keep your mouth and teeth healthy and beautiful, taking excellent dental care of yourself is critical. Unfortunately, dental problems are pretty common. That is why we are sharing with you the most common dental problems and how to prevent or treat them.
9 Common Dental Problems that are Easily Avoidable
1. Dental Cavities
Also known as tooth decay or dental caries, cavities are among the most common dental problems people experience, from young children to mature adults. Cavities occur when plaque, a film of bacteria on the surface of your teeth, eats away at the enamel of your tooth. Over time, it will bore itself into the inner layer, creating holes that will lead to toothaches, bad breath, an unpleasant taste, and visible black or brown spots on your teeth. Crooked teeth, tobacco use, diabetes, and pregnancy can worsen plague build-up and increase one’s chances for cavities.
2. Gingivitis & Periodontitis
Gingivitis and periodontitis are forms of gum disease that occur when there is a bacterial infection caused, again, by that build-up of nasty plague on one’s teeth. Common indicators of gum disease are gums that are red, swollen, and bleed easily, in addition to bad breath and tooth sensitivity.
Gum disease can quickly escalate, causing extensive damage to one’s teeth and mouth, even triggering an inflammatory reaction in the body.
3. Bad Breath
Nothing is worse than bad breath when you are chatting with someone, especially if you are on the receiving end of that yucky odor. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is extremely common, with almost half of adults experiencing it at some point in their lives. Typically, bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene, medication, infection, specific medical conditions, as well as certain foods. I know that we all love garlic, but sometimes garlic doesn’t love us!
4. Broken or Cracked Teeth
Unlike the dental problems listed above, broken or cracked teeth are not caused by poor oral hygiene. Rather, the cause typically stems from an injury such as external force, chewing on hard food, or grinding one’s teeth. Another common cause is mouth piercings. Tongue piercings, in particular, are known for chipping the back of the teeth. Broken and cracked teeth can become extremely painful and cause extensive additional damage to the mouth; therefore, immediate treatment is always recommended.
5. Root Infection
At the base of your tooth is a root, anchoring the tooth in the mouth. Roof infections occur when the root of the tooth becomes infected and swollen with bacteria, often stemming from cavities or a crack in the tooth. Root infections are often blatant in their symptoms: extreme pain, tooth sensitivity, and swelling to the mouth and face. If left untreated, root infections can become dangerous to one’s health, causing nerve damage and the development of abscesses.
6. Receding Gums
Receding gums is a condition when your gum tissue pulls away from one’s teeth, exposing the sensitive and vulnerable root underneath. Typically, receding gums are caused by the common dental problems listed above, but genetic traits, smoking, hormone fluctuation, and high blood pressure can also cause them.
7. Enamel Erosion
Do you enjoy sugary foods and sweet drinks? While they may be delicious to consume, we all know they aren’t superb for our health. What many don’t know is that overconsumption of these can lead to enamel erosion, a condition caused when the acid in these products eats away at the tooth until it becomes both discolored and round. Extensive enamel erosion can make the teeth sensitive and weak, increasing one’s chances for chips, cupping, and cracks.
8. Sensitive Teeth
The inner layer of your tooth is called dentin, and it has little tubes that lead to the nerve deep inside the tooth. When the dentin of the tooth is exposed, hot or cold food or drinks can be painful. The cause of the dentin becoming revealed is typically tooth decay, as well as the other common problems listed above.
9. Dry Mouth
Lastly, dry mouth is a common condition caused by specific medical conditions that become more common as we age. For example, dry mouth can be caused by nerve damage, diabetes, HIV/AIDs, salivary gland disease, cancer treatments, and certain medications. The consumption of caffeine, alcohol, sweets, and tobacco use can worsen it.
3 Easy Dental Care Methods to Prevent Problems
There are three easy dental care methods to prevent potential dental problems. First, the best way to prevent all of the common problems above is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day. If you already have sensitive or damaged teeth, a dentist can suggest specific oral hygiene products to help.
Second, you will want to perform regular visits to the dentist. Dentists will scrape away that excess or hard-to-reach plague you can’t get with your toothbrush, identify potential problems before they become a painful and costly issue, and provide expert recommendations on how to treat your dental problems should they arise.
Finally, you must maintain a healthy diet with minimized sugary food and drinks. Not only will this protect your oral health, but it will help to reduce other health conditions as well.
Remember, if you have any dental problems, always get them treated immediately to prevent further pain, issues, and expenses.
Dental Care with Creekside Dental
To keep your smile healthy and beautiful, you can get regular teeth cleaning and treatment with us at Creekside Dental. Located in Kennewick, Washington, we offer a comprehensive approach to dentistry to bring health and value to our patients. Contact us today to make an appointment.