If you’re embarrassed to smile, you’re not alone. Many people have oral and dental issues that stop them from feeling confident. Fortunately, the most common dental problems can be fixed and prevented with a dedicated dental care routine.
Common Dental Problems and How to Prevent Them
- Tooth Sensitivity
Millions of people are affected by sensitive teeth. People feel pain or discomfort when exposed to sweets, cold air, ice cream, hot drinks, brushing, or flossing. Sensitive teeth can be caused by cracked teeth or tooth abscesses which need to be treated right away. If you have tooth sensitivity, it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist. If they don’t uncover a more serious issue, you’ll likely just have to switch to a sensitive toothpaste to build up your enamel again. - Bad Breath
We all have bad breath from time to time. Also called halitosis, bad breath has a variety of causes like poor oral hygiene, foods and drinks, and gum disease. To fight bad breath, brush twice a day, floss once a day, keep hydrated, and see your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning. It’s also recommended that you brush your tongue, as this collects a lot of bacteria that can lead to halitosis. If you do all of these things but still experience bad breath, talk with your dentist who can help you narrow down the cause. - Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth aren’t just cosmetic issues. Misaligned teeth can actually affect how people eat and speak, causing long-term issues. Luckily, crooked teeth and misaligned mouths can be fixed with orthodontic services like traditional or invisible braces. - Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, or cavities, is another common dental problem that we routinely face. The best ways to avoid cavities is to brush, floss, and limit sugar and high-carbohydrates. You should brush your teeth 30 minutes after eating these foods to avoid tooth decay. - Mouth Sores
Mouth sores can be bothersome and painful. Most of the time they’re nothing to worry about. Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are the most common mouth sores and are found in the mouth, not the lips. While they have many different causes, they’re not contagious. Fever blisters or cold sores are mouth sores caused by the Herpes simplex virus and reside on the outer lips. These come and go and are contagious. Mouth sores are also common in oral thrush or candidiasis, a yeast infection in the mouth that’s usually seen in people with diabetes, those undergoing cancer treatment, denture wearers, and infants. The best ways to prevent mouth sores include avoiding spicy foods, drink water, take vitamins, avoid tobacco, and practice good oral hygiene. - Gum Disease
Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is pretty common. In fact, the American Academy of Periodontology reported that half of Americans have an advanced-stage of gum disease called periodontitis. When gum disease advances, it results in tooth loss. Fortunately, this common issue can be prevented with regular brushing and flossing. Seeing your dentist twice a year is a great way to catch gum disease before it gets worse. - Oral Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, about 53,260 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer and 10,750 of them will die. The best ways to prevent oral cancer include not smoking, using chewing tobacco, and drinking alcohol. Getting the HPV vaccine may also help lower the risk of these cancers. Seeing your dentist regularly can help catch oral cancer in time. You can also schedule oral cancer exams as part of your routine check-ups.
While dental issues can be annoying and uncomfortable, most of them can be prevented. With daily flossing and brushing, a healthy diet, and regular dentist check ups, common dental problems can be avoided. Knowing the causes and how to stop them from happening is a great first step in being proactive towards your dental health.
Suffering from one of the listed common dental problems? Call our office today at (720) 304-3267 and we’ll take care of you!