Common Dental Problems and How to Prevent Them

Dental care is highly encouraged in its observance in the UK. The assuring point is that this gets instilled in children at a young age. While there is no problem with regular tooth brushing, flossing is less observed.

Both habits are important to avoid dental issues. But that’s not all. You can’t stop there.

We have listed a number of dental problems that are commonly encountered and how to avoid them:

1. Bad Breath

This condition, medically referred to as Halitosis, characterized an unpleasant odor in the mouth. Causes include lingering food particles, residue from certain odorous foods like fish, dry mouth, and poor dental hygiene.

For a rather common dental issue, there are various ways to address and prevent bad breath. The most common means to do this is by maintaining oral hygiene. Brushing the teeth and using mouthwash are good ways to start.

Brushing allows you to remove the plaque build-up. Another is by using a tongue scraper or a toothbrush to brush and scrape at the tongue to remove bacteria.

Bad breath brought about by a dry mouth is best addressed with chewing gum or mints, or by drinking water at regular intervals.

If the source of the bad odor is a disease or a dental infection, consult a dentist for treatment.

2. Gum Disease

The gums are tissue that holds your teeth together. If they are not cared for, there may be problems that can affect your teeth, such as Periodontitis. Two types of diseases affect the gums and their severity varies between them.

The first is Gingivitis, a milder form of gum disease that causes the gums to be swollen, red, and may have occasional bleeding. The advanced stage of this, called Periodontitis, is when the plaque build-up has gone past the gum line. This means that the bacteria can cause the gums and the bones supporting the teeth to deteriorate.

The best way to prevent this is proper oral hygiene, with regular tooth brushing and flossing. Ensure that the plaque and bacteria get removed during cleaning, as treatments for these are notably costly. These treatments to address gum disease may include antibiotics, scraping, or even surgical means.

3. Cavities and Tooth Decay

Another of the common dental problems that you can encounter is tooth decay, being as prevalent as the common cold. This happens when plaque produces acids. These acids cause the enamel to decay and may cause cavities, which are small holes in the tooth.

With basic oral maintenance, you can prevent cavities from forming. This includes regular brushing of teeth after meals and flossing. Also, ensure that you are using a fluoride toothpaste as it aids in hardening the tooth enamel.

Treatments for tooth decay may depend on the severity of the damage. You may find it surprising that a majority of children don’t get cavities treated.

One involves the removal of the decay and filling the hole with a dental filling. Another is with use of a crown to replace a part of the tooth. There is also the root canal procedure, which involves the removal of an infected pulp in the tooth.

4. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

This disorder is the involuntary grinding of teeth during sleep. While this is more common among women compared to men, anyone prone to stress may end up developing this disorder. It is psychological, which means that the condition is not permanent nor is it chronic.

This may require the aid of a dentist in treating this. If left alone, it can cause the tooth surface to thin and wear away. It can also lead to serious pain in the jaw area, as well as the neck and face.

Constant tension may cause the muscles to get affected even during sleep.

To treat this, ask your dentist for a night-time mouth guard. It is flexible and comfortable, allowing you to keep it on while sleeping.

5. Dry Mouth

This condition, also known as xerostomia, occurs due to the lack of saliva in the mouth. This may occur for a variety of reasons: one of these may be due to the intake of prescription medication. You may inquire your doctors if this is going to be an issue when taking the prescribed drugs they issued.

The risk here is that it leaves your gums and teeth dry without saliva. Saliva is important because the lubrication and moisture protect your teeth. Older people and those under prescription medication are at risk with this condition.

However, there is no direct cure for dry mouth. If caused by medication, halting intake use may end it. At other times, drinking water more frequently may also help.

6. Tooth Erosion

Tooth erosion is among the most common tooth problems among children. This condition affects the layer of enamel on a tooth.

Acids from certain foods and drinks like soda and juices and bacteria are corrosive in nature and may cause the tooth enamel to thin out and erode. Other causes are digestive complications, such as vomiting, due to corrosive stomach acids.

Brushing after meals is the best solution to combat tooth erosion because this helps remove the bacteria and leftover food bits clinging to the enamel. Drinking milk or eating a slice of cheese also helps in neutralizing acids in the mouth. Reducing intake of acidic beverages is also a preventive measure, as well as chewing gum with xylitol.

7. Tooth Sensitivity

There is a layer called dentin that covers the nerves of the teeth. When the dentin layer gets exposed, either by receding gums or by other factors like age, eating certain food can cause pain and discomfort. Meals that are hot, cold, sweet, or acidic can become a struggle to enjoy.

Tooth sensitivity is preventable with good oral care.

Proper brushing, flossing, and reduced intake of sugary and acidic foods should aid in preventing this condition. However, the proper assessment of a dentist is highly suggested to see the severity of this dental issue. Dental treatments for this may include the use of a high-fluoride toothpaste or a fluoride varnish on the root surface.

Prevent These Issues with Proper Dental Care

While these dental problems are common, they are also detrimental when left alone. You can prevent these with the proper oral hygiene and ensure its observance daily. If these problems persist, do not hesitate to make an appointment with the dentist.

And when it comes to these dental problems, we offer a variety of solutions and problems for your oral health. Get in touch with us, set an appointment, and we’ll be here to help.