There are only a few of us who have never experienced dental problems of any kind. One of the main reasons for this is: most people don’t pay attention to maintaining oral health. Naturally they fall prey to common dental problems at some point in their life. According to American Academy of Implant Dentistry, over 30 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one or both jaws. While the loss of teeth can be attributed to accidents or old age, poor oral hygiene is also a contributory factor.
Dental problems can be wide-ranging but there are some of them that most commonly affect people of all ages. Let’s discuss the 4 most common dental problems and how to fix them.
#1 Tooth decay
Tooth decay is, by far, the most common dental disorder among children and adults. Caused by dental cavities, tooth decay may or may not show visible signs or symptoms until the cavities start getting worse. Normally accompanied by mild to sharp pain, which might be felt more severely while chewing or biting, tooth decay stems from irregular brushing, not cleaning the residues of food particles, and excessive intake of sweet foods such as candies, chocolates, ice-creams etc.
Based on the severity of the decay, your Houston dentist might suggest two of the best options – dental filling or placing a dental crown to treat this problem. In acute conditions, the decayed tooth might have to be completely or partially extracted and replaced by implants.
#2 Wisdom teeth
The appearance of a wisdom tooth or the third molar tooth is often accompanied by pain, inflammation, and varying degrees of discomfort for people. The pain might range from very mild to severe and occasionally, the spot of tooth eruption might even get infected. While in most cases, the pain subsides naturally after a few days and might be relieved with a few gentle rinses of warm salt water, in serious conditions, your Houston dentist might recommend a surgical extraction of wisdom tooth for a more permanent relief.
#3 Gum diseases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that nearly 50% of American adults suffer from some form of gum disease. The most common form of gum diseases is gingivitis or the inflammation of gum tissues caused by plaque buildup. Chronic gingivitis might result in a receding gum line and can even lead to permanent teeth damage.
The best dentists in Houston offer in-office treatment which includes removal of plaque and tartar to remove the root cause of gingivitis.
#4 Bad breath
Bad breath is a major source of embarrassment for people who suffer from this problem. Besides poor oral hygiene, bad breath is also a sign of unhealthy lifestyle habits and wrong food choices. This problem, though not considered as serious as other dental problems, can actually be a symptom of underlying dental disorders such as gum disease, tooth decay, and a whole range of dental infections.
Apart from changing the lifestyle and avoiding foods such as onion and garlic, patients should visit their Houston dentist for more in-depth treatment of bad breath.
If you’re suffering from these or any other dental problems, call us at (713) 622-1977 to book an appointment with the leading dentists in Houston, TX.
