Have you ever instinctively had to hold your breath because you couldn’t stand the mouth odor oozing out from the other fellow? Do you have teeth plaques that embarrass you when you have to open your mouth wide and guffaw? Do you think your partner is not doing enough in terms of dental and oral hygiene, and that this might be responsible for those unsightly teeth?
When it comes to achieving the best dental and oral health, your personal oral hygiene plays very important roles here. Good dental and oral health goes beyond brushing your teeth regularly. To ensure the best dental and oral health for life, you must go beyond the traditional morning teeth brushing. Optimum dental and oral health involves caring for your teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth.
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Dental and oral health deteriorates when adequate care is not given as often as possible. Giving your oral hygiene the best attention is of utmost importance since it goes a long way to preventing tooth decay and gum diseases. Some dental problems such as crooked teeth, malocclusion and overbites are however hereditary. There are several health problems that come as a result of inadequate dental and oral hygiene, and some of them are outlined below:
Common Oral Diseases
- Bad breath: Bad breath is about the most embarrassing of all dental and oral diseases. Bad breath results from oral bacterial infections that lead to inflammations and very offensive odors and gases. Bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis can also be a symptom of some other health problems.
- Tooth decay: This is another common dental problem. It is often characterized by the discoloration and gradual decay of the teeth.
- Dry mouth: Dry mouth is an oral condition where the mouth fails to produce enough saliva needed to digest foods or regulate the activities of bacteria. Dry mouth conditions lead to uncomfortable dry feeling in the mouth.
- Tonsillitis: The tonsil is responsible for trapping the bacteria, debris and virus in your mouth; when they get overwhelmed by these bacteria, virus, and debris, stones are formed leading to swellings and inflammations.
- Cold sores: These are common oral problems known as fever blisters. They are painful infections caused by Herpes Impex Virus.
- Pericoronitis: This is an inflammation of the gum around the molars caused by bacteria from food trapped in the teeth. The swollen gum could be so painful and even contain pus as a result of gum infections.
- Mouth cancer: Oral cancer is one of the only life-threatening oral diseases. Mouth cancer may affect the lips, tongues, cheeks, hard and soft palates, floor of the tongue, sinuses and the pharynx.
Causes of Dental and Oral Diseases
Different factors such as lifestyle, hygiene, disease, etc contribute to the outbreak of several known dental and oral health problems. Some of the known causes of oral diseases include:
- Diseases: Studies have shown that several diseases that ravage different organs in the body are responsible for most mouth diseases. Fevers are known to cause serious blisters in the mouth.
- Side effects of medications: We take medication to help us get well whenever we are ill, but some medications result in more health problems, some of them oral diseases.
- Poor oral hygiene: This may be the major cause of most dental and oral diseases. Your oral health is directly proportional to your personal oral hygiene.
Your dental and oral health solely depends on how much care you give your teeth and gum. Below are some of the best ways you can care of your oral health:
- Brushing and flossing: Most people stick to the long tradition of brushing their mouth in the morning, but this may not be the best practice. According to dental experts, your teeth should be given adequate brushing after every meal, or at least twice a day. Brushing is not enough; you must equally give your teeth thorough flossing once in a while.
- Use good dental care products: From your toothbrushes to mouthwashes to toothpastes, you must ensure you use the best to ensure healthy teeth and gums. Make sure your toothpastes contain the important fluoride mineral for healthy teeth and gum.
- General tips: Some toothbrushes are too hard, and are not recommended for your teeth as they may hurt your gums. Never use a toothbrush longer than three months in order to achieve the best oral health conditions.
Medical Procedures to Correct Oral Conditions
There are different dental procedures to correct all kinds of dental and oral problems.
- Braces and retainers: For people with crooked teeth or misaligned teeth, braces and retainers are some of the treatment techniques used for straightening your teeth.
- Oral surgery: Some dental and oral issues require surgery before they can be corrected. Make sure the dentist you consult is a specialist in the field of oral surgery.
- Root canals: These are used to repair and save your teeth when they get decayed or badly damaged.
- Tooth extraction: When your teeth get severely damaged, you need to remove them, most dental and oral problems results in tooth decay.
- Gum tissues graft: A gum graft may be required to save your teeth from being damaged by harmful effects of gum recession. It can also help improve the quality of your smile.
- Dental filling: Fillings are equally used to repair teeth damaged from accidents or misuse.
Other dental procedures: Other procedures to improve your dentition are dental bonding, gum contouring, bridges, veneers, dental crowns, teeth whitening, etc.