What are the 10 most COMMON DENTAL PROBLEM and their TREATMENT???

Dental problems are disturbing , but a majority of them can be prevented or easily resolved. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating properly and educating yourself about common dental problems and their causes can also helps in preventing dental problems.

1. TOOTH DECAY

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids made by bacteria. 
You get them when a sticky bacteria, called plaque, builds up on your teeth, slowly destroying the hard outer shell, called enamel. The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black. 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 60 to 90% of kids worldwide have cavities.
SYMPTOMS: Pain, Tooth loss, Difficulty eating. 
COMPLICATION: Inflammation around the tooth, tooth loss, Infection, or abscess formation. 
DURATION: Long term 
PREVENTION: The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day, flossing your teeth daily, decreasing your intake of sugar, drinking fluoridated water, avoiding tobacco products.
TREATMENT: Dental Restoration, Tooth Extraction. 
                          
 (A) A small spot of decay visible on the surface of a tooth. (B) The radiograph reveals an extensive region of demineralization within the dentin (arrows). (C) A hole is discovered on the side of the tooth at the beginning of decay removal. (D) All decay removed; ready for a filling.

2. BAD BREATH 

Nothing is more embarrassing than bad breath. Sadly, bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common oral problem across all ages. But, as much as we might think this is common, it’s usually a sign of other dental problems.

Studies show about 85% of people with bad breath are suffering some other dental problem that is to blame. Bad breath is common symptom of gum disease, cavities or oral cancer.


SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: Bad breath is when a noticeably unpleasant odour is believed to be present on the breath. It can result in anxiety among those affected. It is also associated with depression and symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

CAUSES: Gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and bacteria on the tongue are some of the dental problems that can cause bad breath.

TREATMENT: Brushing after every meal helps control bad breath as well as other oral problem, Tongue cleaning and Flossing your teeth daily, use of mouthwash.
MEDICATION: Mouthwash containing Clorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride. 

3. PERIODONTAL DISEASE 
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. In its early stage, called GINGIVITIS, the gums become swollen, red, and may bleed. In its more serious form, called PERIODONTITIS, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or fall out.  
Factors that increase the risk of disease include smoking, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, family history, and certain medications. At the age of 30 few are affected to some degree, and about 70% of those over 65 have the condition.
CAUSES: A buildup of plaque, a sticky bacteria, below the gum line.
SYMPTOMS: Red, swollen, painful, bleeding gums, loose teeth, bad breath, pus formation.
COMPLICATIONS: Tooth loss, gum abscess.
TREATMENT: Good oral, regular professional cleaning.

4. SENSITIVE TEETH

Sensitive teeth involves experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks or ice cream. Some people with sensitive teeth even experience discomfort from brushing and flossing.
Sensitive teeth can also be a sign of a cracked tooth or a ​tooth abscess, which needs to be treated by your dentist to prevent losing a tooth or getting an infection in your jaw bone.

CAUSES: 

  • Brushing your teeth too hard or using hard toothbrush.
  • Grinding your teeth at night
  • Tooth decay (cavities)
  • Fractured teeth
  • Worn fillings or tooth enamel
  • Gum diseases
  • Exposed tooth root
  • Acidic food and beverages
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SENSITIVE TEETH?

  • Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and appy less pressure when brushing.
  • Drink water right after consuming acidic foods and drinks.
  • Avoid acidic foods and drinks that can erode tooth enamel.
  • Use desensitizing toothpaste.
  • Try fluoride enriched mouthwash or dental trays for fluoride.

5. DRY MOUTH

Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow, or have no identifiable cause.
This symptom is very common and is often seen as a side effect of many types of medication. It is more common in older people and in persons who breath trough their mouth. Dehydration, radiotherapy involving the salivary glands, chemotherapy and several diseases can cause reduced salivation (hyposalivation), or a change in saliva consistency and hence a complaint of xerostomia.
SYMPTOMS: chapped lips, mouth sores and bad breath but, more serious symptoms can manifest such as gum irritation and a burning feeling in the mouth.
TREATMENT: Though there is no absolute cure for dry mouth, drinking more water is proven to help keep the mouth hydrated.

6. TOOTHACHE

Toothache, also known as dental pain, is pain in the teeth or their supporting structures, caused by dental diseases or pain referred to the teeth by non-dental diseases.
CAUSES:

  • a tooth decay
  • a dental abscess.
  • a cracked or damaged tooth.
  • a loose or broken filling.
  • an infection.
  • problems with your braces.

 SYMPTOMS:

  • Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth (biting down on something).
  • Swelling around the tooth.
  • Fever or headache.
  • Foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth.
  • A bad odor from the mouth.
HOW TO TREAT TOOTHACHE AT HOME?
  • Rinse with warm saltwater- Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
  • Rinse with hydrogen peroxide-  A hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and rinse thoroughly. Don’t swallow it.
  • Cold compress- For swelling and pain hold a cold compress of ice wrapped in a towel to the painful area for 20-minute periods. Repeat every few hours.
  • Clove oil-  A natural antiseptic that numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Dab a small amount of clove oil on a cotton ball and apply to the painful area.
If the toothache is continuous type and in severe condition please don't forget to visit a dentist for dental treatment.

7. ORAL CANCER

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is cancer of the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat.
Oral cancer on the side of the tongue, a common site along with the floor of the mouth
SYMPTOMS: Persistent rough white or red patch in the mouth lasting longer than 2 weeks, ulceration, lumps/bumps in the neck, pain, loose teeth, difficulty swallowing.
RISK FACTORS: Smoking, alcohol, HPV infection, sun exposue, chewing tobacco.
DIAGNOSTIC METHOD: Tissue biopsy.
PREVENTION: Avoiding risk factors.
TREATMENT: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy

8. MOUTH ULCER
A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of the delicate lining tissue of the mouth (mucous membrane).
The most common cause is injury, such as accidentally biting the inside of your cheek.
In most cases, mouth ulcers are harmless and resolve by themselves in 7 to 10 days without the need for treatment.
Aphthous ulcers are recurring ulcers with no known cause that affect around 20% of the population.
If your mouth ulcers don’t clear up after 14 days, or if you get them frequently, see your dentist or doctor.

9. TOOTH DISCOLORATION

Tooth discoloration is abnormal tooth color, hue or translucency. External discoloration is accumulation of stains on the tooth surface. Internal discoloration is due to absorption of pigment particles into tooth structure.

CAUSES: 
EXTERNAL (EXTRINSIC) CAUSES- Dental plaque, calculus, tobacco, betel chewing, certain food and soft drinks, certain medication like chlorhexidine or Cetylpyridinium chloride.
INTERNAL (INTRINSIC) CAUSES- Dental caries, fluorosis, trauma,internal resorption, amalgam filling, tetracycline and tetracycline-derivatives, genetic disorders, aging.
TREATMENT:
Most extrinsic discoloration is readily removed by cleaning the teeth, whether with "whitening" (i.e., abrasive) toothpaste at home, or as treatment carried out by a professional (e.g., scaling and/or polishing). To prevent future buildup of extrinsic stains, identification of the cause (e.g., smoking) is required.
Intrinsic discoloration generally requires one of the many types of tooth bleaching. Alternatively the appearance of the tooth can be hidden with dental restorations (e.g., composite fillings, veneers, crowns).

10. TOOTH CROWDING / MALOCCLUSION

Crowding occurs when there is disharmony in the tooth- to-jaw size relationship or when the teeth are larger than the available space. 
Crowding can be caused by early or late loss of primary teeth, improper eruption of teeth, or a genetic imbalance between jaw and tooth size.
TREATMENT:
Braces are the go-to treatment for teeth crowding with severe realignment needed. Depending on the crowding, orthodontists might even suggest extraction to make room for teeth to shift.
If it doesn’t require extensive realignment, one might opt for clear aligners called Invisalign. It requires more discipline since they need to be taken out when eating, cleaned before putting them back on and replaced every fortnight.





 



Popular posts from this blog

MOUTH ULCER / ORAL ULCER / MUCOSAL ULCER

Image
  A  mouth ulcer  is an ulcer that occurs on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. The two most common causes of oral ulceration are local trauma (e.g. rubbing from a sharp edge on a broken filling or braces, biting one's lip, etc.) and aphthous stomatitis   ("canker sores"), a condition characterized by recurrent formation of oral ulcers for largely unknown reasons. EROSION :  is a superficial breach of the epithelium, with little damage to the underlying lamina propria.  MUCOSAL EROSION:  is an erosion which specifically occurs on a mucous membrane.  EXCORIATION:   is a term sometimes used to describe a breach of the epithelium which is deeper than an erosion but shallower than an ulcer. ULCERATION:   is a break in the skin or mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue and the disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissues. Diagramatic representation of mucosal erosion (left), excoriation (center), ...
Read more

WHAT CAUSES TOOTH SENSITIVITY? HOW TO GET RID FROM SENSITIVITY?

Image
Sensitive teeth involve experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from   sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks, or ice cream . Some people with sensitive teeth even experience discomfort from brushing and flossing. Sensitive teeth can also be a sign of a cracked tooth or a ​tooth abscess, which needs to be treated by your dentist to prevent losing a tooth or getting an infection in your jaw bone. CAUSES: Various things can cause tooth sensitivity. Some of the most common causes include: Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush and brushing aggressively. Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages. Tooth decay, worn, leaky fillings, and broken teeth that expose the dentin of your tooth. Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed. Grinding your teeth at night. Post dental treatment sensitivity is common but temporary, especially with crowns, fillings, and tooth bleaching. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: The pain is sharp and sudden, in response to an external sti...
Read more