Oral or dental health pertains to the condition of your gums, teeth, and mouth. The goal is to prevent issues and complications such as gum disease and tooth decay as well as maintaining the overall health of your mouth.
Good oral hygiene ensures a bright smile. But a poor one can result in dental and gum disease which can affect your overall health. While basic oral care can be maintained through daily brushing and flossing, proactively seeing a dentist at least once or twice a year can make a huge difference.
Consulting a dentist regularly can help prevent worsening tooth and gum problems. The good thing nowadays is that booking a schedule with a licensed dentist is easier because it can be done online. Many dental clinics run official websites which cater to prospective clients online.
Dental problems and diseases are very common. According to the World Health Organization:
- Oral diseases affect about 3.5 billion people around the globe.
- Over 530 million kids suffer from tooth decay on their primary teeth.
- Severe periodontal diseases affect almost 10% of the world population.
Oral Health To General Health: The Link
Dental health has risen in importance in the past years, as new studies and research discovered a connection between poor oral health and underlying systematic diseases. As it turns out, a healthy mouth and teeth can help maintain a healthy body.
According to a study, periodontal diseases have been associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, respiratory diseases, and dementia, among others.
Types of Oral and Dental Diseases
The mouth and teeth are used a lot. So, it is not surprising how many things can go wrong over time, particularly if you do not take proper care of them. Without proper dental hygiene, here are the kinds of dental and oral problems you might encounter.
- Cavities
More commonly known as tooth decay or caries, cavities refer to areas of the tooth that are damaged or may even have holes in them. This is the most common dental problem with an estimated 2.3 billion people suffering caries on permanent teeth.
Cavities occur when food, bacteria, and acid cover your teeth and form plaque. The acid starts to eat away your teeth at the enamel and the underlying connective tissue. Over time, this can result in permanent damage.
- Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity is exactly what it sounds like—discomfort or pain in the teeth as a response to specific stimuli such as cold or hot temperature. It can temporarily occur after having a filling or root canal. However, it is often the result of receding gums, gum disease, worn-down crowns or fillings, or a cracked tooth. Also, some individuals naturally have sensitive teeth due to thinner enamels.
- Broken or Cracked Teeth
A tooth or teeth can break or crack from chewing hard foods, sudden changes in mouth temperature, injury to the mouth, or bruxism—the habit of grinding your teeth at night. A cracked tooth can be quite painful and it is recommended that you visit your dentist right away after you get one.
- Gingivitis
Simply called gum disease, gingivitis is the inflammation of your gums. In general, this is the result of plaque buildup on your teeth due to poor dental hygiene. It can make your gums bleed and swell when you floss or brush. Untreated gingivitis can result in a more serious infection as would be described below.
- Periodontitis
This severe gum infection can result in tooth loss and other serious complications. It inflicts damage to your soft tissue, and if left untreated, can destroy the bone that supports the teeth. It can also cause an inflammatory response throughout your body.
- Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are bothersome and pesky. Generally, it’s usually nothing to worry about and should disappear on its own. However, if the mouth sore lasts for more than two weeks, then a dental check-up is necessary.
There are several kinds of mouth sores. The common mouth sore is known as a canker sore which occurs inside the mouth. These are not contagious and are triggered by several causes. Meanwhile, cold sores or fever blisters are caused by a virus, which occurs on the edge of your outer lips. These are contagious and, in some cases, the condition would come and go.
Mouth sores also occur in oral thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth that can be seen in people wearing dentures, diabetics, infants, and people undergoing cancer treatments.
- Oral Cancer
Oral cancer develops in the tissues of the throat or mouth. This belongs to a larger group of cancers called neck and head cancers. Most cancer cells develop in the squamous cells found in the tongue, mouth, and lips.
According to stats, oral cancer is 1 of the 3 most common cancers in some countries of the Pacific and Asia. Meanwhile, in the US, over 50,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually, occurring mostly in people over 40 years old.
Treatments of Oral and Dental Diseases
The above-mentioned oral and dental problems are often treated by several methods. Your dentist is the only one who can recommend the best treatments for your oral problems.
- Cleanings
Even if you brush and floss 3 times a day, you will still need to visit your dentist for professional cleaning. This helps get rid of any tartar that you might have missed while flossing and brushing.
A dental hygienist uses a high-powered toothbrush to clean your teeth, followed by flossing and rinsing to take out any debris.
There’s another kind of cleaning known as deep cleaning. This removes tartar and cavities from below and above the gumline which can’t be reached during regular, routine cleaning.
- Fluoride
After a dental cleaning, the dentist can apply a fluoride treatment in order to fight off cavities. Fluoride can help strengthen the tooth enamel and make it more resilient to acid and bacteria.
- Dental Sealants
These are thin, protective coatings placed on molars or back teeth, in order to help prevent cavities. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces by covering them with a protective shield, blocking out food and germs that can cause cavities.
Dentists usually recommend a sealant for kids as soon as they get their first molar and when they get their second set of molars.
- Fillings
Fillings are used to repair a crack, cavity, or hole in your tooth. Your dentist will first use a dental drill in order to remove the damaged (black) area of the tooth and then fill the hole with some material, including composite, cast gold, or amalgam. It is also used to repair worn-down teeth from misuses such as tooth grinding or nail-biting.
- Dental Crowns
A dental crown is basically a cap for a severely damaged tooth. It is used if a large part of your tooth has broken off due to injury or needs to be removed due to cavities.
There are two kinds of dental crowns—a regular crown that fits over your natural tooth, and an implant crown that fits over an implant. Both crowns fill in the gap where the natural tooth appeared.
There are several materials used to make dental crowns including metal, ceramic, porcelain, zirconia, composite resin, or a combination of these materials.
- Root Canal
A root canal is a dental procedure that involves the removal of the tooth’s soft center known as pulp. This pulp is made up of connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels which help the tooth grow.
If tooth decay reaches all the way inside the tooth to this pulp, a root canal can help save the tooth. During a root canal, the pulp is removed and then replaced with a filling made of biocompatible material which is usually a combination of adhesive cement and a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha.
It is often performed while you are under local anesthesia.
- Tooth Extraction
If the dentist can’t save your tooth with a root canal or other dental procedure, then it will likely be extracted.
In addition, you may also need a tooth or surgical extraction if your third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, are impacted. A dentist will usually recommend that wisdom teeth be extracted if they cause inflammation, pain, or other issues.
Also, crowding can require tooth extraction. Oftentimes, those who get braces will need one to two teeth removed in order to provide room for other teeth as they shift into place.
- Dental Implants
These are used to replace a missing or extracted tooth caused by tooth decay, injury, or periodontal disease. Specifically, dental implants are a replacement for teeth roots. It offers a sturdy foundation for removable or permanent replacement teeth made to look like your natural teeth.
A dental implant is surgically drilled and placed into your jawbone. You’ll need to wait for the bones to naturally grow around the implant. After that, the dentist will customize a new artificial tooth that matches your other teeth, known as a dental crown. If replacing more than one tooth, the dentist may customize a dental bridge to fit into your mouth. The bridge consists of two abutment crowns on either side of the gap, holding the artificial teeth in place.
Your Oral Health Care Plan
In order to prevent dental and oral health issues and skipping the expensive, and often painful dental treatment methods, you need to keep your teeth and mouth clean and fresh. With that said, here are general tips you need to consider.
- Proper Brushing
Everyone knows that brushing at least twice a day is one of the most important dental hygiene practices to keep teeth and mouth clean. Better yet, it is recommended to brush after every snack or meal. However, it can only be effective if people are using the proper technique.
Proper brushing means using small circular motions, not the sawing back and forth motions. You need to brush the front, top, and back of each and every tooth. This process should take two to three minutes.
In addition, using a hard-bristled toothbrush or brushing too hard can damage the tooth enamel and injure your gums. This can cause tooth sensitivity, gum erosion, and permanent damage to the protective enamel of your teeth.
Experts recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles and to change your toothbrush every three months or when the ends look frayed, whichever comes first.
- Don’t Neglect Flossing
Most people are too lazy to floss their teeth. But it is beneficial for your overall dental health in the long run.
Flossing removes bacteria and plaque from between your teeth, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Not only that, but it also helps in preventing bad breath by removing food debris that has become trapped between teeth.
Experts recommend gently pushing the floss all the way to the gumline before doing an up and down motion on the side of the tooth. Avoid snapping the floss up and down between teeth since it can cause pain and does not remove plaque effectively.
- Consider a Mouthwash
According to some studies, mouthwash can benefit oral and dental health. One
revealed that mouthwash with chlorhexidine can help control gingivitis and plaque. Mouthwash can also help with bad breath.
You can ask your dentist which is the best mouthwash for your needs. It is important to note, however, that mouthwash can’t substitute flossing or brushing. It can only complement these practices.
- Use Fluoride
Fluoride is a common ingredient in mouthwash and toothpaste and helps in preventing cavities. It also helps in strengthening developing teeth in kids while protecting the teeth enamel in both adults and kids.
- Eat A Balanced Diet
You need to eat a variety of foods but limiting those that contain starches and sugars including cakes, cookies, ice cream potato chips, and soft drinks. Such foods produce the most acids that can hasten the decay process. If you love eating snacks, it is recommended to brush your teeth afterward.
- Quit Smoking
Smoking can harm the immune system, making it difficult for the body to heal tissues, including tissues in the mouth. Smoking also increases your risk of oral cancer and cancers of the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. It can also cause bad breath, gum disease, tooth discoloration, and other dental and general health problems.
- Visit The Dentist Regularly
Experts recommend visiting your dentist every six months for routine cleanings and checkups. You can speak with your dentist about the frequency that’s best for you.
Conclusion
Your oral health affects more than just your teeth. It can contribute to issues in your general health as well as your comfort and overall quality of life. While you can’t always prevent every cavity that occurs, you can help prevent tooth loss or severe oral diseases if you take good care of your oral health and see a dentist often.
This is a collaborative post, the opinions and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.
