Healthy teeth are something that many people take for granted. You don’t tend to think about your oral health much other than during your regular dental check-ups and during teeth brushing. But teeth and oral health, in general, are complex things, and there can be many dental issues that can occur which require attention and/or treatment. It’s helpful to be aware of what these issues are so you’ll know if you need to act on them. Here are five common dental issues and what you can do about them.
Toothache
This is perhaps one of the more common dental issues that will prompt a call to your dentist. Tooth pain can be quite uncomfortable and doesn’t often offer you a break. The pain will continue and often get worse until you get it looked at. So, what can you do if you can’t get in to see your dentist right away? You can use over-the-counter pain relief, try flossing to ensure there isn’t food stuck between your teeth and causing the pain, and rinse with warm water. Sometimes you can have a fever at the same time as the toothache, but this signals a bigger problem, and you don’t want to put off a visit to the dentist.
Cavity
A cavity is something that tends to happen to everyone at some point or another. For that reason, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms so you can have them filled in as soon as possible. A cavity is simply a hole in your tooth. These are caused by a build-up of plaque and bacteria. Cavities need to be filled by the dentist so that they don’t get worse and cause more pain and discomfort.
The best way to avoid getting cavities is to make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss twice a day and use mouthwash. This will ensure there is no food left on or between your teeth that can lead to decay.
Underbite
Another common dental issue people have is an underbite. An underbite happens when a person’s lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth.While this may not seem like a big deal, there are several issues it can cause. If left untreated or uncorrected, an underbite can cause the following:
- Excess strain put on the muscles in the jaw, the jaws itself and your teeth
- Wearing down of the teeth
- Trouble chewing food
- A higher risk of developing cavities, tooth decay and gum disease
- Difficulties flossing and cleaning the teeth properly
- Speech difficulties
- Mouth breathing (which comes with a variety of issues)
- Sleep difficulties
Outside of the physical issues, it can also leave a person feeling self-conscious about their smile. An underbite isn’t something you want to ignore; instead, you want to get it corrected as soon as you can.
Underbite correction with AlignerCo can be a great option for those who don’t want to deal with surgery as their treatment option. With this treatment, you will wear a clear aligner that has been fitted to your teeth and it will work to shift everything into alignment. As the company explains, results can happen in as little as four months, so it’s a convenient treatment you’ll want to consider.
Discolored Teeth
If you notice staining and discoloration on your teeth, this may not be an emergency but, at the same time, it may be something you want to act on. Teeth whitening has become very popular over the past couple of decades and today people can use natural methods at home, teeth whitening toothpaste and mouth wash, at-home teeth whitening kits or they can have their teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist.
Your method of whitening will depend on how extensive the staining is, what kind of results you want and how quickly you want to see the results. A professional cleaning will give you the fastest most noticeable results.
Moving forward, it would be wise to avoid things that are known for causing staining, or at least brush and immediately rinse after consuming them. Items that can cause teeth staining include:
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Tea
- Cola
- Soy sauce
- Fruits and berries
- Balsamic vinegar
- Curry
- Tomato-based foods and sauces
- Smoking
Cracked Tooth
This particular issue is the exact reason why sports players are told to wear mouth guards. A cracked tooth is caused by some sort of impact that is hard enough to crack the tooth. Sometimes, the simple practice of chewing can cause it if the item is particularly hard. There are different ways to fix this issue based on how deep/far the crack is.
Being aware of the common issues that can occur with your teeth means you’ll be able to act fast and appropriately when problems happen.
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