Common Oral Health Issues and How to Prevent Them

Many dentists and other dental professionals handle all kinds of issues. Even so, they commonly see patients with certain oral health issues more than others. If you’re dealing with one of them, you should have your teeth and gums examined. After all, the problem could worsen if not properly treated.

First, it’s important to understand what common oral health issues occur the most often. Second, learn what you can do to prevent them. Many issues relating to teeth and gums lead to physical ailments. So, when you prevent a problem, not only will you benefit from improved oral health but also physical health.

Tooth Decay

Often referred to as a cavity, this involves a tooth that’s started to rot. In response, a hole forms, which may or may not expose the roots. If it does, you’ll experience pain when eating, breathing in cold air, and even when not doing anything at all. Cavities make everyone miserable, especially children.

To prevent tooth decay, start by reducing the amount of sugar and starch in your diet. That’s because they leave deposits on teeth. If you don’t brush and floss daily, they begin to bond with bacteria in the mouth. At that point, both plaque and the deposits lead to acid that erodes teeth.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is another common oral health problem. Formally known as “periodontal disease,” it causes inflammation, swelling, and tenderness. However, if you don’t have gum disease treated, it can lead to tooth loss and bone damage.

At the onset of gum disease, people usually notice a slight amount of blood when they brush and floss. As it progresses and becomes periodontitis, more serious issues develop. Always brush and floss daily. Also, if you notice that you’ve developed bad breath, make an appointment with a dentist right away.

Bad Breath

Millions of people suffer from bad breath, also called gingivitis. It’s not only uncomfortable to deal with but also embarrassing. Numerous things cause bad breath. For instance, poor oral hygiene, infection, acid reflux, dry mouth, and medication are all contributing factors.
 

Even if you’re not able to eliminate the cause from your life, a dentist can reduce the effects or help them stop altogether. After doing an assessment to confirm the cause, they’ll offer a treatment plan. As part of that, a dental hygienist will thoroughly clean both your teeth and gums.

Sensitive Teeth

If you have sensitive teeth, you’ll have a hard time eating or drinking anything cold or hot. Typically, this happens in response to enamel that’s worn away, leaving the dentin exposed. It consists of a small tube that travels to cells and nerves inside of teeth. When hot and cold substances reach them, you experience sharp pain.

Again, you need to have your teeth examined to determine the underlying cause. However, if caught early, a dentist can treat the problem. From there, you’ll know what to do to prevent it from occurring again. After all, the things that cause enamel to wear away include gum disease, a broken or cracked tooth, and an infection in the root system. Those are all preventable.

Excellent Dental Services

At Today’s Family Dental, we treat all of these conditions and more. To have your teeth and gums examined or for a routine cleaning, you can call either one of our Florida offices. For Tampa, dial 813-370-1700. For the Lutz location, call 813-212-2700.