The best things in life are free! A smile, glee, sheer amusement, or a burst of hearty laughter exposes the twin rows in your mouth. Your teeth help you to communicate to your audience. And for some people, their career on TV or social media depends on their smile.
However, toothaches causing headaches can ruin your day and send you running to the dentist near you. Often, people do not take their oral health seriously until they get headaches, swelling, or pain in the gum. Many people are either negligent of their oral health or lack the financial capacity to seek medical assistance.
Why take your teeth seriously?
The teeth are a critical part of your body. Ideally, you care for your body because it keeps you going and visit the doctor when sick. Therefore, it helps to see a dentist twice a year to help fix any dental issue. And before you experience headaches and toothaches, learn to do the following
- Brush your teeth after every meal.
- Never go to bed without brushing your teeth
- Floss regularly
- Visit the dentist regularly
- Avoid food items that can damage your teeth, such as sweets, ice-creams, and sugary snacks
However, you may experience gum problems despite following a healthy oral hygiene routine. Anyone can suffer from minor or severe dental issues.
Common teeth problems
- Tooth decay
Tooth decay is the most common oral disease. It can affect adults, teenagers, and infants. Cavity grows around the surface of a tooth and causes tiny holes. A cavity can also develop inside the tooth, exposing the pulp and the root.
When bacteria accumulate in the mouth, it collects around the teeth. The white stick substance called plaque buildup on the teeth or gum line, causing tearing of the enamel. A cavity can also attack the edges of previously-filed teeth.
Prevention
You can prevent plaque by brushing your teeth thrice a day. Brushing removes tiny food particles from the teeth. Ensure your toothpaste has fluoride, and remember to brush the tongue lightly.
Additionally, limit your snacks intake, floss regularly, and use a fluoride-rich mouthwash. Remember to see your dentist at least twice a year to help detect any dental problems.
- Stained teeth
Typically, everyone has white milk teeth that regrow upon shedding. Similarly, the permanent set of teeth is white, although the shades of white differ from one person to another. And just like laundry, your white teeth can get stains from food items, water, tobacco, and medication.
Discolored teeth can cause one to lose self-esteem. Visit a dentist if you have discolored teeth. The oral surgeon may recommend any of these three options:
- Whitening- the dentist may use a whitening agent and a unique lighting device to brighten your teeth.
- Bleaching-you can use a bleaching gel and a plastic tray from a dentist to improve your teeth’s appearance. If you buy from a store, ensure you read the instructions and talk to the dentist.
- Rinses- whitening rinses and toothpaste are the simplest and readily available options for teeth brightening.
The teeth whitening process takes time, and one must be patient before seeing results. Consult your dentist about your preferred teeth whitening alternatives and repeat the procedure regularly.
- Chipped teeth
This is the leading type of dental injury. Your teeth can chip off due to an accident such as a fall or head-on collision with a compact surface. A chipped tooth is uncomfortable, and one tends to feel it with the tip of the tongue.
Remedy
Because accidents are inevitable, the dentist can only help improve your appearance by doing the following:
- Crown- a crown is an artificial addition that covers the chipped part of a tooth
- Bonding-the dentist may apply a bonding material, which is a strong resin tissue, to replace the chipped part. Further, if the pulp is at risk, a root canal, crowning or, veneering may be applied to save the tooth.
- Impacted teeth
A permanent tooth that is not correctly aligned on the gum is said to be impacted. An impacted tooth occurs when an erupting tooth gets stuck on the bone, soft tissue, or against another tooth.
Intervention
- Leave it alone-The doctor may do nothing about it, especially if it doesn’t bother you or if it does not affect the gum in any way.
- Extraction- If the tooth is visibly uncomfortable or affects your appearance, the dentist may recommend extraction.
- Cracked tooth- Cracked teeth often affect the molars. You can have a cracked tooth for biting something too hard, or being knocked by another player during a game. Can your dentist save the day?
Intervention
- Crowns- most oral surgeons recommend crowns for cracked teeth because it prevents the split from worsening. However, the problem gets complicated if the tooth is sensitive to cold, heat, and sudden temperature change.
- Root canal- A root canal may be necessary if the crack appears above the gum line. However, if the crack is deep, the dentist may pull it out.
- Tooth sensitivity
A sensitive tooth manifests as a sharp pain when your teeth come into contact with extreme temperatures.
Causes of tooth sensitivity
- Exposed root
- Fractured tooth
- Cavity
- Gum disease
- Worn out tooth enamel
- Worn out tooth filings
Visit the dentist for an examination of your teeth. Depending on the doctor’s review, the following intervention may fix tooth sensitivity:
- Root canal
- Filling
- Antibiotics to treat gum diseases
- Desensitizing strip or toothpaste
- Fluoride gel
- Gum disease
Do you spot bloody saliva on your brushing sink? Does the gum feel tender to touch and seem to pull away from the gum? If you have these symptoms, you need to visit the dentist immediately. These are signs of gingivitis or gum diseases.
Left untreated, a patient can lose dental bone or lose teeth. Gradually, chewing, brushing, and speaking can become a challenge.
Prevention
- Brush your teeth, thrice a day
- Floss regularly
- Visit the dentist often
Parting shot
Brush your teeth, and tongue after every meal. Ensure you visit your dentist for a routine checkup so he can spot any problem before it worsens. And if an accident occurs, have an oral surgeon examine your teeth for any injury that needs attention.
