The quality of smiles means differently to different people. Many people, especially TV personalities, beauty queens and the rest owe their careers to their smiles, and they are always perfect. But how did they get these perfect smiles? They worked hard on their dental health and regularly visited the dental hygienist.

Many dental problems can affect the quality of your smile. Here are eight of them and the possible preventive measures.

Cavity/Tooth decay

Cavities are permanent damages that occur on the teeth in the form of holes. This is a highly prevalent dental problem and can even affect infants.

They are caused when plaque settles on the surface of the teeth. These plaques are formed when people take in high sugar diets. The bacteria from the mouth feed on the sugar and cause the enamel to start deteriorating. This usually leads to tooth decay which fillings can manage.

Cavities are caused by the food we eat, though some bacteria in our mouth can also cause it.

The symptoms of cavities include

• Toothache
• Sensitivity
• Sudden pain when drinking or eating something sweet or cold
• Holes on the surface of your teeth
• Tooth stains
• Pain when biting

To prevent cavities

1. Reduce your consumption of foods with high sugar content(like ice cream, soda, candies, etc.)
2. Brush your mouth immediately after consuming these foods to prevent the build-up of plaque
3. If you can’t brush there, rinse your mouth with water
4. Take more water. If possible, make it a replacement for beverages
5. During your regular visit to the dentist, ask for fluoride gels or tooth sealant options.
6. Tramadol over night.

Gum disease

Gum disease begins as gingivitis which may later develop into periodontal disease. Gingivitis can be treated, periodontal disease too, but if their treatment is delayed, it can cause the teeth to become loose and sometimes fall off.

The symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Tender and swollen gums
• Loose teeth
• Development of pus

This disease is mostly caused when the bacteria in the plaque on the teeth attack the gum ligaments. Preventing this disease is by practising good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least three times daily and visit the dentist regularly. Also, consider having a deep clean with your dentist.

Use tartar-control toothpaste to reduce the build-up of plaque.

Bad breath

Also known as halitosis, bad breath is a common and embarrassing dental problem common to all ages. Though this could be a sign of a dental problem, it is commonly caused by the type of foods we eat. Onions, garlic, sweets, and liquor are some of the common causes of bad breath.

The best way to control the bad breath is by brushing immediately after the meal. Always carry a little container of mouthwash with you if you cannot brush your teeth immediately after the meal. If you can’t, try gaggling with water.

Visit your dentist if the odour persists. It could signify a severedental condition.

Dry mouth

Also known as xerostomia, it is a condition where the saliva gland does not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth wet.

The antibacterial properties of saliva are what keeps the plaques at bay. However, dry mouth is caused by many things like ageing, stress, prescription medication, or smoking. Older people and those undergoing chemotherapy are at a higher risk of this disease.

People recognise the dry mouth in them with the following symptoms

• Mouth sores
• Chapped lips
• Bad breath
• Sometimes a burning feeling in the mouth and gum irritation

Dry mouth has no absolute cure, but drinking a lot of water can help hydrate the mouth.

Tooth crowding

Though many people see tooth crowding as just an aesthetic problem, it goes beyond that. If left untreated, it can cause issues like temporomandibular jaw disorder or TMJ. But this can be prevented by fixing the tooth crowding.

This is a natural problem for many people as the new teeth come out in different positions after the baby teeth have fallen out. Also, some people’s teeth shift when the person is not aware of.

Using braces to treat this problem is usually the best solution.

Root infection

Root infection is the result of bacteria invading the root of the teeth. These bacteria enter into the middle of the teeth and fight the pulp tissue in it. At first, many people will rule it out as ordinary toothache.

After a while, an abscess will form, indicating the root of the tooth has been infected. Here, the pain will increase, and you need to visit your dentist. This problem is usually resolved by a root canal treatment which is very painful and uncomfortable.

Tooth loss

There are many causes of tooth loss, and untreated, periodontal disease tops them all. Some people can also lose their tooth from extraction (to treat tooth decay or root infections).

When this happens, the way out is using dentures or dental implants. Dentures are more affordable than dental implants. They are removable and are obtainable from the dentist.

However, the implants will be added to your jaw before an artificial crown will be put on top. This will make them look natural and last a long time.

Oral cancer

This dental problem is very deadly, and its number of cases is increasing yearly. This type of cancer is more deadly than the others since there are usually no initial pains or symptoms.

It begins as a small pinkish growth in the mouth which, may not be easily noticed. However, they can be detected and treated on time by the dentist.

Oral cancer is usually caused by drinking and smoking.

Common prevention

To prevent dental problems

• Have a good dental hygiene
• Go for the regular dental health check-ups
• Clean your teeth regularly with the hygienist
• Avoid sweet and carbonated drinks, even snacks which contain a lot of harmful substances to your teeth
• Quit smoking
• Reduce your intake of alcohol, and brush your teeth immediately after taking some
• Drink more water
• Use fluoride toothpaste

Conclusion

You can altogether avoid dental problems if you take care of your oral health properly. Avoid the foods that cause plaques and visit your dentist regularly. Check-in with the dental hygienist, and if you do not have one, search for ‘dental hygienist near me.’

Contact us for more information or book an appointment for dental health care.