Many people take their teeth for granted. Sure, you may have excellent dental hygiene, which is why you have healthy, white teeth. But for others, they are more prone to dental problems despite their effort to maintain their pearly whites.
The problem with teeth is that they undergo lots of strain every single day. With all our talking, biting, grinding, and chewing, along with other factors like aging, it's no wonder why dental problems can happen.
But what are the common dental issues, their causes, and how do you prevent them? What's the best way to solve these dental problems? This article will tackle these topics.
Dental Cavities
We often refer to this as tooth decay or dental caries. The culprit - bacteria you get after eating sugary and starchy foods. It occurs when bacteria in plaque settles on the teeth, causing the production of acid. This acid will eat away the enamel on your teeth, and then holes will start appearing on your affected tooth.
Children and older people have more vulnerable tooth enamel. That's why they are more prone to tooth decay. The best way to prevent dental caries is by practicing good oral hygiene. However, if you developed a cavity, make sure to check in with your dentist. He will give you the best advice on how to address the cavity - either by putting in a crown, standard filling, or tooth extraction.
Good Read: Tooth Decay Prevention: 8 Daily Dental Care Tips
Periodontitis
It is commonly called Gum Disease. It occurs when plaque accumulates in the mouth, resulting in a bacterial infection. In this case, there are five stages of periodontitis. It means you still have enough time to reverse the progress. However, once it moves to the third stage and up, it can be harder to manage.
The common cause of periodontitis is poor dental hygiene. However, people with Diabetes are also prone to this type of dental problem. The main symptom of gum disease is gingivitis. If you notice bleeding gums on more than one occasion, set up an appointment with your dentist asap. Once your dentist confirms the diagnosis, they will often prescribe antibiotics.
Xerostomia
Also called Dry Mouth, is a condition wherein your mouth lacks saliva. One of the common reasons for dry mouth is drug side effects. Dry mouth is not just about the discomfort of not having enough saliva. It is about the fact that your teeth and gums lack its much needed saliva.
Saliva helps give moisture to your mouth while serving as a lubricant and cleansing agent. It helps wash away plaque left from your teeth. Plus, its antibacterial properties helps get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay.
Good Read: https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/natural-remedies-dry-mouth/
The thing is, the only intervention for dry mouth is by drinking more water to help ease the discomfort. Your doctor may also issue some medications. Make sure to take them if you want help in pumping saliva from your glands.
Tooth Infection
This type of infection happens when the bottom part of your tooth's root becomes infected. Bacteria fills up the area, causing damage to the nerves and tissue inside the affected tooth. The common cause is a dental cavity or a deep crack in your tooth.
In worst case scenarios, patients with a tooth infection can develop painful tooth abscess. It may appear as an excruciating toothache and a swollen or puffy face. If you're unfortunate enough to have a tooth infection, then the only solution would be a root canal.
This is a complex treatment that requires a couple of hours to finish. Your doctor will use an anesthetic before drilling the top part of the affected tooth. They will create a transparent tunnel by grinding the inside of your tooth. All infected pulp tissue will be removed before filling the area with gutta percha. This is a tough material that will help strengthen your teeth, preventing bacteria from entering the area.
Enamel Degradation
This is among the most common tooth problems. One can easily spot a tooth with enamel degradation due to its round and discolored enamel.
The common cause for such a tooth problem is overexposure to too many sugary foods and fizzy drinks. This includes soft drinks, diet sodas, sports drinks, most wines, and sweet snacks. These types of snacks and drinks contain acid that is corrosive and bad for your teeth. Wonder who are the ones most susceptible to enamel degradation? They are professional wine reviewers or wine tasters.
The best way to prevent enamel degradation is by avoiding sugary snacks and fizzy drinks. Drink lots of water instead and use a softer toothbrush when brushing your teeth. For severe cases, your dentist may recommend bonding support.
When Tooth Extraction Is The Only Plausible Choice
If, at any rate, your dentist recommends tooth extraction, it could mean one thing. Your tooth can't be saved. Before having your tooth pulled, your dentist will discuss your replacement options. In most cases, the best way to replace a permanent tooth is via a dental implant. If you choose to have a tooth extraction, then you can choose between a regular dental implant or have a G4 by Golpa.
A dental implant aims to replace your old tooth to avoid dental gaps. Avoiding gaps is not only for aesthetic purposes. It is also essential as it can lead to bone and enamel degeneration if left unattended.
The Takeaway
Our teeth are among our finest assets. If we don't take care of them, you can't expect to have that beautiful collection of pearly whites. You'll have a hard time eating your favorite food. You won't get the kind of satisfaction you get from chewing your food. Also, it can affect your confidence, how you carry yourself, and how you think people see you.
In a nutshell, poor dental hygiene, an unhealthy diet, and poor lifestyle choices are the common cause of dental problems. Taking care of your teeth and a little bit of lifestyle moderation can go a long way for your dental health.