3 Common Dental Problems and Their Solutions

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3 Common Dental Problems and Their Solutions We
dont often think of our teeth as living things,
but in reality they are. Teeth contain living
tissues and nerves, and when combined with body
temperature and moisture, create a breeding
ground in our mouths for bacteria - both good and
bad. Its really no wonder that our teeth
eventually end up causing us problems. Our teeth
are under strain every single day of our lives
from talking, biting, chewing, grinding and even
aging. In order for our teeth to remain healthy
and strong, daily care is required through good
oral hygiene practices. This includes brushing
and flossing at least twice a day, and regular
check ups and cleanings at your family dental
clinic. It also means maintaining a reasonably
healthy diet to prevent plaque build up and
avoiding sugary snacks, drinks and breakfast
cereals. Even if you have an excellent daily
oral care routine, problems with teeth can still
occur from time to time. Its important to know
the signs of potential underlying dental issues
and how to fix them. While an urgent care dental
clinic can fix serious problems, it is really up
to you to maintain the overall health of your
teeth. Weve created the guide below with 3 of
the most common dental problems, signs to watch
out for, what actions to take, and the best way
to approach treatments. Tooth Decay Tooth
decay, also known as cavities, occurs when the
bacteria in plaque is allowed to build up on
your teeth. This buildup produces an acid that
slowly eats away at the enamel on your teeth,
causing holes. The bacteria becomes especially
aggressive after eating sugary foods or sugar
heavy drinks, or starchy foods. This is why
maintaining a healthy diet is vital to oral
health. The risk of developing cavities is
dependent entirely on your lifestyle. The better
your oral care routine is, the less likely you
are to experience tooth decay. Children and older
adults are at a slightly higher risk, however,
as their enamel is weaker. Although tooth decay
in children may be resolved once adult teeth
emerge, this does not mean that regular trips to
the dentist are not essential. The best
approach to plaque prevention is brushing and
flossing twice a day, every day. Once a cavity
is formed, the only solution is to fill and
repair the tooth, so take good care of your tooth
enamel! If you do happen to develop a cavity,
its important to see your dentist right away.
Left untreated, the tooth could develop an
infection that leads to a painful abscess. Gum
Disease
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When plaque is allowed to accumulate on the
teeth, it can lead to a bacterial infection in
the mouth. This infection eats away at soft gum
tissues and the ligaments that hold the teeth in
place. There are five stages of gum disease,
meaning there is time to reverse the progress of
the infection. During the early stages of
gingivitis and mild periodontitis, symptoms can
be reversed with immediate treatment and a good
dental hygiene routine. By the time it reaches
the later stages, it becomes much harder and
more costly to treat. Anyone can develop gum
disease. Those most at risk are individuals with
poor dental hygiene practices and those with
other serious health issues. People with
diabetes, for example, are more prone to
developing gum infections. The main symptom of
gingivitis is bleeding gums. If your gums bleed
often, its vital to see your dentist right
away. The dentist will examine your gums by
gently prodding the pockets inside the gum
tissue. If in response these pockets bleed or
become painful, they are most likely infected.
Antibiotics may be required as part of
treatment. Tooth Infection A tooth infection
occurs when the root of the tooth becomes
infected causing it to fill up with bacteria.
When left untreated, damage to the nerves and the
pulp tissue inside the tooth will happen, so
its vital to see your dentist right away. A
tooth fracture, deep crack or cavity can lead to
an infection. Severe root infections can lead to
painful abscesses when left untreated. These
abscesses present themselves in the form of very
painful facial swellings, or swollen bumps
beneath the gum line. Abscesses typically occur
when the root infection has progressed to the
level of being serious. By addressing a cavity
or cracked tooth quickly, you should be able to
prevent a root infection from occurring. The
main treatment for a root infection is a root
canal procedure. It is quite complex and can
take a few hours to complete. Although root
canals have the reputation of being quite
painful, the reality is a bit different. An
anesthetic is used to numb the area, so you
shouldn't have much pain, if any at all. You may
experience a bit of pain after the anesthetic
wears off and as the tooth is healing. A root
canal procedure involves the dentist drilling a
hole into the top of the infected tooth. A
special file will then be inserted to grind away
the inside of the tooth until a tunnel to the
root of the tooth is made. A suction tool is
then inserted into the tunnel to suck out all of
the infected nerves and pulp tissue. The empty
tooth is then filled with a strong material
called gutta percha to prevent bacteria from
getting into the tooth, and to strengthen the
tooth itself. Prevention is The Best Cure
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Just like every other part of your body, your
mouth is likely to remain strong and healthy if
you take good care of it. Maintaining excellent
oral health requires you to be vigilant with good
oral hygiene practices. Your dentist can help
maintain dental health and address problems when
they arise, but ultimately it is up to you to
make sure your mouth stays in good shape. People
with poor oral hygiene practices may find it
difficult to tell when something is wrong inside
their mouths because theyve grown accustomed to
tooth pain, bleeding gums, bad breath or a host
of other problems. The truth of the matter is
that none of these things signal good oral
health, and can indicate the presence of much
more serious issues. Keep your mouth, yourself
and your dentist happy by sticking to a strict
oral hygiene routine. If you do require
treatment, its important to understand that an
identified problem results in a solution that
will protect both your oral health and physical
well being as a whole. Destination Dentaire
firmly believes that prevention is better than
the cure. With a focus on the early detection of
dental problems, ranging from gingivitis to the
beginning of the formation of caries, the
dentists and hygienists at Destination Dentaire
ensure their patients know how to avoid these
problems from the outset. Sometimes, despite your
best efforts, problems arise. If that happens,
don't worry, they're ready to take care of it.
Visit the Destination Dentaire website today to
learn more.