5 Common Dental Problems And How To Prevent Them

Who doesn’t want strong and shining teeth? Healthy teeth not only give a radiant smile to you but also boosts your confidence and self-esteem. However, sometimes, because of bad oral hygiene or other environmental factors, your dental health might take a bumpy road. Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is one of the most common dental problems in adults. In fact, almost half of the population has this problem. But the good news is at the best dental hospital in Bangalore these conditions are fully treatable. In this article, we are going to discuss all the 5 most common dental problems in details and ways to prevent them.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a dental problem that occurs when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth. If not treated properly and on time, it can lead to other dental issues like dental caries and gum disease. 

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Some common tooth decay symptoms are:

• toothache

• Tenderness or pain in teeth especially when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet.

• spots appearing on your teeth (grey, brown or black spots)

• bad breath

• bad or foul taste in your mouth.

How is tooth decay treated?

There are several ways your doctor will treat tooth decay. Depending on the severity and stage of the decay, the treatment can vary:

• Fluoride Treatment

For less advanced tooth decay, the doctor may perform fluoride treatment in the form of a highly concentrated rinse, foam, gel, or varnish. The doctor applies the fluoride gel to the decay area and asks you to avoid eating or drinking anything for 30 minutes to let the fluoride gel completely absorb. It is a highly effective tooth decay treatment because fluoride helps to protect teeth by strengthening the enamel, making teeth more resistant to the acids from plaque that can cause tooth decay. 

• Filling or Crown Treatment

If the decay has advanced, the doctor may suggest filling treatment in which they remove the dental decay and fill the hole with dental filling like gold, silver amalgam, composite resin, or porcelain. Another common treatment option for a little advanced tooth decay is dental crowning. Also known as dental caps, dental crowns prevent future tooth decay by covering the tooth prone to decay.

• Root canal Treatment

This kind of treatment becomes necessary if tooth decay has spread to the centre of the tooth (known as pulp), containing blood and nerves. In this treatment, the inflamed pulp is removed and the surfaces inside the tooth are then cleaned and disinfected, and a filling is placed to seal the space.

• Tooth Extraction

If the tooth decay has advanced to a stage where it is so badly damaged that it can't be restored, tooth extraction is the only way. In this procedure, the damaged tooth is removed and replaced with a partial denture, bridge or implant.

Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems that you should not ignore. Some preventive measures for avoiding tooth decays are:

2. Gum Disease

Periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease, is a fairly common dental problem. It is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. Due to bad oral hygiene and poor brushing habits, plaque builds up on the teeth and hardens which can cause redness, swelling and bleeding in the gums. If not treated properly and on time, it can spread to the bones surrounding the gums, making it painful to chew.

Symptoms of gum disease

Some common symptoms of gum disease, enlisted by the best dentists in bangalore, are redness, swelling, tenderness, and bleeding in the gums. In some cases, you can experience gum recession where the gums can start to pull away from the teeth, making them appear longer. Other symptoms of gum disease can be seen in the teeth like looseness or pain while chewing.

Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

Some effective ways to prevent gum disease are:

 

Remember preventive dentistry is far far better than any kind of treatment.

Watch the video below to get expert tips from Dr. Chandramohan Raju on maintaining excellent dental hygiene and protecting your teeth from common issues like deposits and cavities.

 

3. Bad Breath

Bad breath is one of the most common dental problems that affects millions of people around the world. The good news is that it is highly preventable and treatable with the help of simple procedures. Medically known as halitosis, it is a common oral problem in which people suffer from bad or smelling breath. There may be many reasons for bad breath. The main causes are consumption of tobacco products, poor oral hygiene, mouth infection, and certain medications. Apart from that, there may be other causes like consumption of certain foods like onion, garlic, and spices or other mouth, nose and throat conditions. 

How to Prevent Bad Breath?

You can follow some preventive measures to ensure that you don’t get bad breath. These are:

4. Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is another common issue that people face. It happens when the tooth enamel wears out or the tooth roots are exposed outside because of tooth erosion. There may be other causes of sensitive teeth as well like tooth decay, gum disease, cracked or chipped teeth, and certain dental procedures like teeth whitening or dental cleanings. 

It is a very painful and irritating condition in which the tooth becomes sensitive to foods and the patient feels discomfort or even pain while eating. Whenever a person with a sensitive tooth eats something hot, cold, sweet, or sour, the tooth nerves tingle and cause discomfort.

Ways to Prevent Tooth Sensitivity

 

5. Oral Cancer

Oral cancer develops inside the mouth cavity including tongue, lips, mouth roof and floor, tonsils, and the sides and back of your throat. They look like regular sores or white patches that bleed which makes it difficult to detect oral cancer in its early stages. If not treated properly and on time, it can spread throughout the mouth and throat to other areas of your head and neck. 

The primary cause of oral cancer is tobacco usage. Apart from that, they can also develop because of excessive alcohol consumption, weak immune system, deficiency of nutrients, prolonged exposure to sun, and coming in contact with human papillomavirus (HPV).

Ways to Prevent Oral Cancer

Minimise your risk of getting oral cancer by following some tips that we have provided below: