Having good dental hygiene is important for children and parents alike. When problems with teeth occur, it can sometimes feel catastrophic as these issues have an impact on both physical and mental health. The good news is that you can solve practically all oral health issues quite easily.
Here are the top tooth concerns and how to address them:
1. Infected Gums
Gum disease is usually mild and solved by adopting a healthier brushing routine, quitting bad habits (like smoking or reducing sugar consumption). However, gum infections can progress into a rather nasty condition called Periodontitis. This disease occurs when bacteria make their way into the gaps at the side of teeth and cause permanent, festering infection.
Signs of infected gums are pretty hard to miss. You’ll notice loose teeth, shrinking or receding gums, a change in bite, and an unpleasant taste in your mouth/breath.
Fortunately, Periodontitis is something you can solve. Dentists will first give you antibiotics and then they will remove the infected tooth/teeth if your infections keep coming back. You can then replace the lost teeth with implants.
Curious about this process? You can learn more on Wahroonga Village Dental, who outlines the procedure in depth.
2. Bad Breath
Bad breath isn’t just a result of Periodontitis. It can occur for all sorts of reasons! These include acid reflux, cancer, infection, medication, poor oral hygiene, and dry mouth. Go to your dentist and have them do a full examination for you. They should be able to identify the source of the smell and recommend a course of action to resolve it.
3. Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth are a common problem. Sensitivity often occurs when the dentin under the enamel is exposed (especially when you eat hot or cold foods). Tubes inside the teeth conduct heat or cold to the nerves which can be extremely unpleasant.
Getting rid of sensitive teeth usually just requires brushing with a special kind of toothpaste that plugs all the holes in the dentin. However, if you have broken or chipped teeth, then you’ll need to get these professionally treated to remove unwanted sensitivity.
4. Receding Gums
Nobody wants to see receding gums when they smile in the mirror, but it can happen if you don’t take care of your teeth properly. Usually, receding gums occur because of poor oral hygiene or smoking. The tissue at the end of the gum gets damaged and then dies back, forming a new gumline. Here, the solutions are obvious: stop these bad habits!
Sometimes, though, receding gums occur because of high blood pressure or hormonal fluctuations. In these cases, you’ll want to go and see your doctor to learn what steps to take.
5. Root Infections
Root infections are nasty and painful, and often require immediate treatment. They occur when bacteria get into the roots of the teeth and rot them from the inside out. If you have a toothache that throbs and won’t go away, it usually means you have a root infection.
Standard treatment is root canal procedures. These sound awful, but they are pretty much pain-free these days, thanks to modern anesthetics.
Featured Image Credit: Peter Kasrzyk
Home » Blog » Health/Wellness »