5 Common oral health issues that require urgent dental care and treatment

Britons by and large are quite health conscious. They not only take the aspect of physical health seriously but also their oral health. Children are encouraged to visit dentists for routine checkups from a pretty tender age. In this circumstance a leading dentist in the country based in London observes his patients – cutting across age groups – brush the teeth dedicatedly. But when flossing is concerned, the majority of them give that effort a conscious slip. As such both brushing and flossing are equally important to keep any issue related to oral health at bay. In the following section of the blog post let us explore few dental issues that are pretty common across the UK. Let us also go through strategies to avoid those problems.

Bad breath or halitosis

 In dental terminology the problem is known as halitosis. It is characterised by an unpleasant odour in the mouth. There can be several reasons behind the problem

• It can either be food particles stuck between the teeth that eventually get decayed.
• Feasting on certain odorous food items like raw onion, garlic and others.
• Poor dental health often leads to this problem as well.
• Patients who suffer from dry mouth are also plagued with this problem.

There are several effective ways to resolve the problem. The most meaningful way is to maintain sound oral hygiene. Properly brush the teeth twice daily, rinse the mouth thoroughly with an antibacterial mouthwash once daily and flossing the teeth to remove stuck food particles from between the teeth are few such ways. You should rather not forget scrapping and cleaning the tongue while brushing. The aim must be to remove plaque build-ups from the mouth on daily basis. When plaque is removed, harmful bacteria that reside inside plaque films also get removed. Patients suffering from dry mouth should chew sugar-free gums. They may even place mint in their mouth at regular intervals. Having a sip or two of plain water every 15 to 20 minutes is a good way to keep the mouth hydrated and free from harmful bacteria. If your bad breath problem arises from any disease or dental infection consult a dentist for the right treatment.

Gum disease or periodontal infection

Tissues present in the gums provide support to the teeth and hold them at their place. If the gums are not properly cared for then the teeth are likely to be effected. As far as disease for the gums is concerned, there are two types or variations of the problem. One is Gingivitis – it is the milder form of gum disease. Symptoms include swollen, somewhat reddish and tender gums. Occasionally the gums may also bleed. When Gingivitis is uncared for it goes into an advanced stage which is called Periodontitis. This is a serious issue and takes a long time to get cured. At this stage the plaque build-ups surpass the gum line. The harmful bacteria get the chance of eating up the tissues and the bones in the gums. As a result the support base for the teeth starts deteriorating. Maintain sound oral hygiene when you are detected with any form of gum disease – either Gingivitis or Periodontitis. Brush and floss the teeth in the appropriate ways to ensure sound dental hygiene. The treatments to combat gum disease are usually expensive and long-lasting.  

Cavities in the tooth and its decay

Tooth decay is another common dental problem. These cases are found as rampant as common cold. It occurs as a result of acid that erodes away the tooth enamel or the outermost and the hardest covering of the teeth. The acid is formed from the films of plaque that is produced in the mouth. Cavities are tiny holes that are formed on the tooth surface. Proper and regular brushing as well as flossing are the two most effective ways to prevent formation of cavities which in turn saves the tooth from decay and disease. Use fluoride toothpaste to brush the teeth with. It helps reinforcing tooth enamel. The treatment to cure the problem varies from case to case depending on the extent of decay. Filling the affected tooth to cover up the decay, placing a crown on the tooth are few procedures to combat the problem. In severe cases root canal is done. The procedure involves complete removal of the infected pulp from inside the tooth.

Bruxism

 Bruxism is another common problem related to your oral health In easier words it is the involuntary grinding of the teeth while sleeping. Usually people who suffer from excessive stress suffer from this problem. Thankfully the condition is neither chronic nor permanent; rather it is temporary problem. However you cannot afford to ignore this. But the problem is the problem arrives while you are sleeping. Therefore people hardly know that they suffer from it. When you visit your dentist for routine check-ups the expert can pick up the traces of this condition. If left undetected Bruxism can lead to several complexities to make life difficult. It can develop cracks on the teeth surface as well as thinning of the tooth enamel. You may even experience severe pain in the jaws which may extend to the base of the neck and the face. If your dentist detects signs of the problem in your mouth the expert will prescribe to wear mouth guards at night while going to sleep. The mouth guard provides cushion to the teeth from the damage that Bruxism brings.

Tooth sensitivity

The inner layer of the tooth is called the dentin. It covers and protects the delicate nerves of the tooth. When the dentin layer gets damaged the nerves get exposed. The dentin layer may get damaged because of different reasons – like advanced age and receding gums, etc. Having anything hot or cold at this stage may trigger severe pain and discomfort. In easy words this is what the problem of tooth sensitivity is all about. You can prevent this problem by taking sound care of the teeth and the gums every day. Apart from proper brushing and flossing cutting down on sugary and acidic intakes helps preventing this problem. Treatment for this particular oral health issue usually includes using high fluoride content toothpaste or fluoride varnish over the tooth surface. However treatment for this problem requires high level of expertise that only a qualified dentist possesses. Therefore you must consult a dentist to cure this problem.

Prevent these issues with proper and precise treatment

The oral health issues discussed above are pretty common. If left ignored and untreated each of the problems may lead a patient to greater complications and suffering. Highly trained and experienced emergency dentists associated with urgent dental care in London opine you can stay away as well as cure these problems by maintaining sound oral hygiene religiously. If you ever encounter any of the problems do not hesitate or delay to fix an appointment with your dentist.