Common Dental Problems and How to Prevent Them
Billions of people across the globe have dental problems. Are you one of those people who have to deal with dental issues that increase and decrease with time, and if yes, are you taking any protective measures to avoid them?
According to WHO, more than 3.5 Billion people are facing some kind of dental issue.
This number is increasing every passing year due to the change in people's lifestyles, lack of oral hygiene, and extreme consumption of junk, sugary and acidic foods.
Most dental problems are easily avoidable if you pay attention to your dental health, follow some practices regularly and take some preventative measures, as healthy teeth are irreplaceable, and no prosthetic teeth can replace them.
Dental Problems
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the most common dental problem affecting more than 2 Billion people across the globe. It affects people of all ages, and after a certain time, it becomes irrecoverable and leads to tooth loss.
The tooth has a protective layer called enamel, and if that enamel wears down, then that tooth becomes prone to cavities. In addition, when you consume sugary or starchy foods and drinks, the bacteria in your mouth start feeding on carbohydrates, producing acid as a byproduct.
This acid destroys the enamel on your teeth, leading to the formation of cavities. Poor oral hygiene can also contribute to tooth decay as it becomes a breeding ground for the bacteria in your mouth, giving them ample room to multiply and produce more acid.
Any delay in treating your decayed tooth can increase the problem and lead to tooth decay, toothaches, and tooth loss.
Maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings is a sure-shot way of avoiding tooth decay, as good oral health maintenance prevents the tooth from tooth decay.
Some symptoms of tooth decay include tooth sensitivity, pain, and bad breath.
Gum Diseases
Gum diseases are one of the most common dental problems in the world, affecting more than 1 Billion people across the globe.
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and supporting tissues of your teeth and is also known as periodontal disease. It is caused by plaque buildup on your teeth, leading to inflammation and bleeding of the gums.
You should be extra cautious about it because it not only affects your dental health but also puts your overall health in danger. If you don't treat your gum disease immediately, then it can lead to serious dental problems, such as tooth loss and bone loss.
Moreover, the horrors of gum diseases are not limited to your oral health, as gum disease-causing bacteria can also penetrate into your bloodstream and cause infections in other parts of your body, including your heart, lungs, and brain.
Some common signs of gum diseases include red and swollen gum, bad breath, and gums that start bleeding when you brush or floss them.
Teeth Sensitivity
Our list of common dental problems would have been incomplete without adding teeth sensitivity, as it is one of the most common dental problems in the world, and you must have faced this at some point in your life.
No matter how good or bad your oral hygiene is. Teeth sensitivity feels like a sharp, sudden pain, often shooting or throbbing pain in one or more teeth.
A tooth has three layers,
Enamel
Dentine
Pulp
Enamel is the outermost layer and acts like a protective shield against teeth, but if you consume a lot of acidic and sugary food, then this layer starts to wear off and exposes dentine which is the sensitive layer of teeth.
Cases of teeth sensitivity differ from each other in terms of severity and frequency. In simple cases, you may feel mild pain that would wear off after some time.
However, in extreme cases, you would feel throbbing pain that will not go away. Therefore, it's best to visit your dentist and ask him about your issues to save yourself from pain and future damage.
Preventive Measures for Oral Health
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
If you take good care of your oral hygiene, then you are already on the safe side. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride-rich toothpaste for two minutes with correct movements, floss regularly, and use mouthwash to kill the bacteria in your mouth. Also, visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.
Limit Your Consumption of Sugary and Acidic Foods
Sugary and acidic foods and drinks wear down the enamel on your teeth leading to tooth decay and sensitivity.
Limit your intake of extremely acidic and sugary foods and drinks, and always research your favorite foods and drinks, as sometimes, healthy-looking foods can also put your oral health at risk.
A quick hack to save your teeth from the damage of your favorite food is to rinse your mouth with water after consuming them to help neutralize the acid.
Quit Smoking
Most people know that smoking is injurious to health and puts lung and heart health at risk, but do you know the adverse effects of smoking on your dental health?
Smoking can cause many dental issues that start from bad breath and tarter build and then exceed gum diseases and oral cancer.
Use a Mouthguard
A mouth guard is a thick shield for your teeth and protects you from dental trauma and injury. If you play any high-contact sports like boxing, hockey, and rugby, then you have to wear a mouth guard as it saves your teeth from any damage.
Drink Plenty of Water
So many dental issues happen because your mouth is dry, and saliva protects your teeth from bacteria.
Always keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water to flush out bacteria and remaining food particles from your mouth, ultimately reducing the risk of developing dental problems.
Manage your stress
Stress affects both your mental and dental health and can lead to teeth-damaging habits like teeth biting and jaw clenching, which ruins your dental health and causes headaches.
Start practicing stress-reducing activities, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation, and refrain from stress-inducing activities, less excessive use of social media, unhealthy diet, and binge-watching or binge eating.
Chew sugar-free gum
Saliva acts like a natural barrier against the bacteria in your mouth and teeth. Chewing sugar-free gum help stimulate saliva production, which helps neutralize acid and wash away food particles.
Last Thoughts
Dental problems are painful and decrease your confidence level by ruining the health and appearance of your teeth.
Spare yourself from the pain of common dental issues like tooth decay, sensitivity, and gum disease by taking necessary care of your teeth and investing your time and effort in recommended dental practices for maintaining oral hygiene.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for your oral health. By taking good care of your teeth through regular brushing and flossing and limiting your consumption of sugary and acidic foods, you can see visible changes in the health and appearance of your pearly whites.
Along with these changes, you should also make some simple lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, using a mouth guard, and drinking plenty of water, as they also affect your oral health in unimaginable ways.
Following the preventive measures and lifestyle changes, along with visiting your dentist every six months, can save you from most dental problems and help you maintain good oral health for a lifetime.