Teeth Problem - Symptoms, Risk factors and Treatment

Maintaining oral health is an essential part of a self-care routine. If you do not keep your oral cavity clean, it can lead to infections and cavities. Also, it can be more injurious to your health if you have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. Keeping your oral cavity clean is a life long habit. The earlier you learn the importance of keeping your oral cavity clean, the more damage you can prevent to your teeth and overall health. 

To maintain oral health, you must make a routine of frequent brushing, mouthwash, flossing, and limiting your sugar intake. The cleaner you will keep it, the more you will have to stay away from costly dental treatments and long term health issues. 

To keep your teeth and dental cavity clean, you must;

• Brush your teeth at least twice, in the morning and at night, with a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss your teeth at least once a day
• Decrease the overall sugar intake
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Avoid smoking
• Drink clean and fluoridated water 
• Visit your dentist frequently for follow up visits 

Symptoms 

You should not wait for the signs and symptoms to appear to visit a dentist. It is highly recommended that you see your dentist at least twice a year. In this way, your dentist can catch any problem before it starts to show signs and symptoms and bother you. If you experience any of the following signs and symptoms, you must visit the dentist soon. 

• Tender areas, swelling, or ulcers in the mouth that do not heal in a week or two
• Bleeding from gums after flossing or brushing
• Loose teeth
• Receding gums
• Swollen gums 
• Chronic bad breath 
• The clicking of the jaw
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Frequent dry mouth
• Sensitivity to cold or hot 
• Pain in teeth/ toothache 
• Pain with chewing or biting
• Swelling of the face and cheek

If any of these symptoms occur with high-grade fever and neck stiffness or swelling, you must consult with a healthcare provider soon or seek a medical emergency. 

Causes 

Eating a diet rich in sugar is harmful to your oral cavity. Some of them are normal flora, while some of them are not. Sugar can become a residing place for acid-producing bacteria, which produce acid there. Eventually, that acid can destroy tooth enamel and cause oral cavities. Other causes of dental carries are;

• acid reflux, or heartburn
• frequent vomiting, due to the acid
• diabetes
• the use of medications that reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth
• family history, or genetics
• certain infections, such as HIV or AIDS
• smoking
• poor brushing habits
• frequent snacking on sugary foods and drinks
• hormonal changes in women

Types 

There are various types of dental and oral diseases. Some of them are as follows.

• Dental cavities 
• Gingivitis- inflammation of gums 
• Peridontitis 
• Cracked teeth o broken teeth
• Tooth sensitivity, also known as dentin sensitivity
• Oral cancers, like that of gums, tongue, lips, the floor of the mouth, cheek, hard and soft palate

Oral and general health 

Oral hygiene affects your general health too. If too many bacteria grow in your oral cavity, they can enter your systemic circulation too. They can also infect the lining of your heart, causing endocarditis- inflammation of the heart lining. Oral bacterial infection can also be associated with heart diseases, low birth weight, and premature birth. 

Conclusion 

Maintaining oral health is an essential part of the self-care routine. If you do not keep your oral cavity clean, it can lead to infections and cavities. Also, it can be more injurious to your health if you have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.