What Are The Most Common Dental Problems?

Dental problems are not cool, but the good news is that most of them can be easily prevented. Some good habits to maintain good oral care are — to brush twice a day, floss daily, eat properly and attend regular dental checkups. Keeping yourself well educated about common dental problems and their causes can also go a long way in prevention. Here is a list of common dental problems which you need to be aware of:

1. Bad breath

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be downright embarrassing. Dental studies say that about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath have an underlying dental condition.

Gum diseases, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and bacteria on the tongue are a few dental problems that can cause bad breath. Using mouthwash to curb bad breath when a dental problem is present would only mask the odor and not cure it permanently. If you have chronic bad breath, see your dentist to rule out any of these problems

2. Tooth decay

Tooth decay, Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth enamel, which forms the hard outer layer of teeth. This problem can arise for anyone, including children, adolescents, and adults. In this condition, there’s a constant formation of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria on the surface of the teeth. When you consume food or drinks containing sugars, bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. Since the plaque is stick these acids keeps in contact with the teeth and eventually cause the enamel to break. This is when cavities form.

Cavities are most common among children, but even aging can cause this problem to occur in adults too.

3. Gum disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding teeth. It is also one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. Few studies have also indicated that there may be a link between heart disease and periodontal disease.

Everyone is at risk for gum disease, but it generally occurs post 30 years. Smoking is an important factor that causes gum diseases. Diabetes and dry mouth might also increase your risk. Symptoms include bad breath, red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and pain while chewing.

4. Oral cancer

Oral cancer is a very critical and deadly disease that affects millions of people. Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that someone in America dies every hour due to oral cancer, but it is often curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages. It is most often seen in people over 40 years of age.

The most important risk factors are snuff and alcohol, including chewing snuff. HPV-wart sexually transmitted virus also increases the risk.

5. Mouth Sores

Mouth Sores, There are several kinds of sores in the mouth and can be annoying and tiring. Unless a canker sore persists for more than two weeks, it is usually nothing to worry about and will disappear by itself.

The most common type of mouth sores are canker sores (aphthous ulcers) that occur inside the mouth and not on the lips. They are not contagious and can be caused by many different causes. They are only a concern if it doesn’t disappear after two weeks by itself.

Fever blisters or herpes sores are caused by herpes simplex virus and occur at the edge of the outer lips. They are contagious and come and go, but they are not completely curable.

Mouth sores are also seen in oral candidiasis or candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth that can be seen in infants, denture wearers, people with diabetes, and those undergoing treatment of cancer.

6. Oral Pathologist or Oral Surgeon

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is best known for wisdom tooth extractions. This is an important treatment, but oral surgeons do much more than this. Generally wisdom teeth do not have the room that they need to erupt and come into place as the last teeth in the mouth on the upper and the lower arches. If they are allowed to remain they can crowd your teeth, cause infection or even damage other teeth or bone in your mouth. They can be fully impacted, which means that they are covered by the bone and the gums, partially impacted or fully erupted in the mouth. Generally if teeth are impacted, a more involved surgery would be needed to remove them. Oral surgeons now have operating rooms set up in their offices instead of using a hospital like when I was a teenager. Oral surgeons also perform extractions anywhere needed in the mouth, corrective jaw surgery to better align misaligned jaws, facial trauma surgery in accident cases, biopsies on suspicious areas in the mouth, bone grafts and implant procedures, and TMD surgeries.

7. Tooth erosion

Tooth erosion, is the erosion of tooth structure and is caused by acid attack on the enamel. Signs and symptoms of tooth erosion can range from sensitivity to more serious problems such as cracking. Tooth erosion is more common than people might think, but can also be prevented easily.

Are you facing any dental problems that need you to see a dentist right away? We can help you connect with the best dental doctors that suit your needs. Call us on 888-885-1434 to get quotes or book appointments.