9 Common Dental Problems and How You Can Prevent Them

At United Smiles Dentistry, we provide exceptional dental care. Our services include solutions for oral cancer, tooth decay, invisalign, root canal therapy, and more. We know the importance of beautiful, healthy, and lasting smiles and give trusted care to our patients. So, let us talk about the common dental problems you need to know about and how you can prevent them. 

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Understanding Oral Health

Before discussing common dental issues, understand what good oral health is. It is the complete health of the mouth, teeth, and gums. Oral health is most often affected by dental problems like tooth decay, gum disease, tooth sensitivity, enamel erosion, and more. 
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These are common dental conditions, but they can still cause discomfort and pain, leading to difficulty eating. Preventing them is easy when you opt for professional dental care services and follow basic care tips. Make sure to treat the issues timely to achieve good overall oral health. 
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Common Dental Problems
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1. Gum Disease

There are different stages of gum disease; the mild one is called gingivitis. It occurs when plaque is piled up between and around teeth and starts infecting the gums. It can further increase the stage of periodontitis. You may face more severe issues like painful chewing, tooth loss, bleeding, and receding gums at this stage. 
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Common reasons contributing to gum disease include skipping or poor brushing techniques. Other reasons may be diabetes, pregnancy, and the use of tobacco. However, different gum disease stages can be treated with the help of your dental health professional. Make sure you practice brushing and flossing twice daily and consider other good practices as well.
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2. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay, also called dental cavities or dental caries, occurs when the mouth's bacteria feed on sugars and produce acid. This acid can eat away and permanently erode the teeth' enamel.  This can further lead to holes or cavities in your teeth, resulting in mild to severe toothaches. 

Practically speaking, everyone may have experienced this common problem with teeth at some point. Opting for expert dental care, including crowns, fillings, or root canals can save your teeth from getting damaged permanently. Ensure to prioritize regular good oral hygiene. Moreover, go for regular checkups to avoid the problem growing more. 
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3. Tooth Sensitivity

The common symptom of tooth sensitivity is when you experience pain and discomfort while eating cold or hot foods. It can occur when tooth enamel is eroded, allowing food or beverages to reach the nerve endings. Possible causes of tooth sensitivity include root infection, gum disease, receding gums, enamel erosion, and a broken tooth. 
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To avoid tooth sensitivity, you can opt for toothpastes and mouthwashes specifically used for sensitive teeth. If you are facing severe sensitivity, seeing a dentist may be the best option, as the treatment would be chosen according to the seriousness of your case. 
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4. Bad Breath

Bad breath is one of the most common dental concerns many adults face. The major reasons include poor oral hygiene, gum disease, infection, or dry mouth. As there are many reasons for bad breath, it would be better if your dentist do a complete assessment and advise a specific course of action. 
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5. Enamel Erosion

When your teeth start discoloring slowly, it is a condition called enamel erosion. The main cause of this damage is consuming too many acidic and sugary foods like soda and sweets over a longer period. Also, brushing your teeth for too long, too hard, and too often can be a cause. 
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Once the enamel is lost, it can not be restored. But, you can reduce the enamel erosion to grow further by avoiding plenty of consumption of acidic and sugary substances. Using soft bristles toothbrushes can also greatly contribute to avoiding enamel erosion. 

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6. Oral Cancer

Any cancer found in the oropharynx, tongue, lips, or overall mouth is oral cancer. Lumps and sores are the common symptoms of oral cancer. The risk of oral cancer can be increased because of genetic factors, exposure to human papillomavirus, and alcohol or tobacco use. The cancer is treatable if you visit the dentist timely and consider regular checkups. 
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7. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding often happens when you are sleeping but can also occur when you are awake due to stress or misaligned teeth. It can lead to sensitivity, jaw pain, and even tooth wear. Sometimes, it might even result in earaches and headaches. 
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Some dental conditions can even cause grinding, including a new crown or filling higher than your teeth or an abnormal bite. To treat it, your dentist can provide you with a custom-made mouthguard that you can use at night. It helps reduce the grinding, offers protection to your teeth, and can even correct bite issues. 
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8. Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Another common dental issue that most adults suffer from is impacted wisdom teeth. Due to a lack of space in the jaw, wisdom teeth can become impacted, so they cannot emerge fully. 
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This may be quite painful and can also result in swelling. If you are suffering severe pain after your wisdom tooth was extracted, it would be recommended that you see your dentist as soon as possible. 
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9. Root Infection

Due to cracks, fractures, or cavities in the tooth, the base or root can become swollen and infected with bacteria. Damaged nerves and tissues of the tooth result from root infection and can even lead to the development of abscesses. One of the definite symptoms of root infection is continuous chronic toothache. 
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In such cases, chewing and biting will be greatly painful. Moreover, your mouth will become sensitive to cold and hot foods and drinks. However, it is treatable and can be cured by root canal therapy, which ist a safe procedure with minimal pain. 
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How to Prevent Dental Problems?

Preventing common dental problems seems difficult, but it is not. It all depends on how you practice regular oral hygiene and how professional dental care services you are getting. Some of the most common tips include:

• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a specific toothpaste, depending on your issue
• Choosing water as the primary beverage
• Limiting sugar consumption
• Avoiding smoking and tobacco
• Using safe equipment to avoid facial injuries
• Regularly visiting the dentist
• Flossing or use of other cleaners regularly
• Limiting alcohol consumption 
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When to See a Dentist?

Here comes another important question: When should you contact a dentist? If you face any dental problems listed above, that’s the right time to visit your dentist. Also, if you have been experiencing some common or minimal symptoms for a long time or some diseases that cause tooth loss, contacting the doctor would be advised, as the earlier you seek treatment, the less pain you need to bear. 
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The most common signs are swollen gums, toothache, sudden sensitivity, gum problems, jaw pain, dry mouth, and difficulty eating or drinking. If you notice any of these signs, it is time to seek treatment from a professional dental care specialist. 
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Get Exceptional Dental Care At United Smiles Dentistry!

Having different types of problems with teeth has never been a thing to be okay with. It comes up with pain, poor oral health, and even a faded smile. All such things can greatly impact your self-esteem and even life quality. But you don’t have to worry when United Smiles Dentistry is here to help you with all the dental problems you might have been experiencing. We provide our patients with trusted and expert care. 
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With our personalized treatments, you can rest assured that your dental concerns are being treated with advanced procedures. The team of dentists focuses on giving you a lasting and beautiful smile in a comfortable and welcoming environment. All you need to do is contact us and visit us.

What services do we offer?

United Smiles Dentistry offers a wide range of services, including checkups, sealants, cleanings, fillings, single visit root canal, dental implants, invisalign, emergency dental care, and even advanced solutions for tooth decay and oral cancer. 
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How can you keep your teeth healthy?

To keep your teeth healthy and achieve good oral health, you should brush twice a day, drink more water, avoid acidic and sugar foods, rinse your mouth after every meal, prevent consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and avoid smoking. These are the basic tips to keep your teeth healthy that you can consider regularly. 
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Can you fix a tooth decay?

If your cavity is small and has not spread too much, your dentist can help remineralize your teeth by fluoride treatments. But remember one thing: if the cavity has spread beyond your enamel, you will require a filling or a crown.
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Can bad teeth cause health problems?

Several studies have shown that poor oral health can contribute to different serious health issues. This may include diabetes, high-risk pregnancy, respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and sleep disorders. All of these are major health concerns, so it is advised to consider prioritizing your oral health regularly.