Every other person from our family and neighborhood is suffering from dental health issues. People are either ignorant, scared or unaware about the possible complications and treatment. Aware yourself about the dental problems and their causes can go a long way in prevention. Dr.Sachdeva’s Dental Implant India clinic in Delhi presents a short guide to all the common dental problems that you might stumble upon:
TOOTH DECAY
Tooth decay better known as cavity, is caused due to the bacteria settled on your tooth due to improper flushing of food debris out of your mouth. These bacteria produce an acid which corrodes the tooth surface and form holes in it.
Who is at risk –Anyone can get a cavity but children and older people are the most prone.
Prevention – Tooth decay is highly preventable by basic oral hygiene maintenance which includes brushing your teeth twice a day and rinsing your mouth properly after every meal. Eat healthy. Children can benefit from sealants (plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of their back teeth).
Cure – Visit Dr. Sachdeva’s Dental Clinic as soon as you notice any black spot or hole in your teeth, depending on the severity, you might be advised for dental filling, root canal treatment or removal of the teeth altogether.
STAINED OR DISCOLOURED TEETH
Yellowish or brownish stains that appear on your teeth surface can be caused due to the colour in your food, the fluoride content in your drinking water, certain medicines and tobacco. Discoloration of a single or two teeth can be due to old trauma to the tooth.
Who is at risk – Anyone with tobacco chewing or smoking habit, living in high fluoride zone or taking medication (antibiotic, anti-hypertensive, anti-psychotic etc) can have teeth staining. People who drink excessive tea/coffee per day are also prone to staining.
Prevention – Quit tobacco and reduce the intake of tea/coffee. Visit the dentist every 6 months for routine cleaning.
Cure – People with medication or fluoride related staining can also get their teeth bleached or whitened at Dr. Sachdeva’s Dental Clinic. Root canal treatment followed by capping is the choice of treatment for discolored tooth.
GUM DISEASES
Gum disease is an infection of the structures surrounding the teeth (gum, ligament and bone) caused by bacterias. The early stage is known as gingivitis and the advanced as periodontitis.
Who is at risk – Everyone! Most prone are smokers, people with bad oral hygiene and people with systemic diseases such as diabetes. It is also a risk to Teenagers and pregnant women.
Prevention – Good oral hygiene maintenance which includes brushing and flossing twice a day.
Cure – You need to seek professional help if your gums bleed or are swollen. Initially deep cleaning of the tooth helps control the disease but in advanced condition you may require antibiotic therapy and even minor surgery.
TOOTH SENSITIVITY
Unpleasant sensation on taking cold or hot liquid and food stuff may be due to tooth decay, loss of enamel due to grinding or vigorous brushing, exposed root surface (lower part of the tooth which is hidden by gums), gum diseases, fractured tooth, or worn out tooth fillings.
Who is at risk – People with teeth grinding habit and fractured tooth. Poor oral hygiene contributes to gum diseases and exposed root surface thus leading to teeth sensitivity.
Prevention – Visit Dr. Sachdeva’s Dental Clinic to get excellent mouth guards for grinding habit correction, brush gently for 2 minutes with a soft bristle brush. Maintain good oral hygiene.
Cure – Treatment for decayed and fractured tooth (if present). Replacement of worn out tooth fillings. Cleaning of teeth (Scaling). Your dentist will plan your treatment in accordance with underlying cause.
CROOKED TEETH OR GAP BETWEEN TEETH
Besides esthetic concern, crooked teeth are difficult to clean and maintain. Irregular teeth (gap or crowding) can be due to your genetics or early/delayed exfoliation of baby teeth.
Who is at risk – Children who get their teeth pulled out due to dental problems and do not receive space maintainers (dental appliances used to guide eruption of permanent teeth at their correct place in case of early extraction of baby tooth)
Prevention – Proper treatment planning of dental problems in children. Evaluation of irregular teeth at 8-10 years of age followed up by planned correction procedure in following years.
Cure – Irregular teeth requires planned professional treatment known as ‘Orthodontic Treatment’. Veneers can fill gaps between your teeth, whiten teeth that are stained, and fix badly shaped or crooked teeth.
MISSING TOOTH
People with missing tooth encounter three main problems – difficulty in chewing, speech impairment and unpleasant esthetics in case of front tooth. There are numerous other hidden complications associated with it, which includes, shifting of teeth, change in bite, TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) disorders etc.
Who is at risk – Older people have the tendency to lose tooth. Apart from that people with decayed tooth, gum diseases are also at a risk of losing teeth.
Prevention – Oral hygiene maintenance and regular dental checkups can help detect the diseases which may lead to tooth loss.
Cure – Patient may choose from variety of options available at Dr. Sachdeva’s Dental Institute for fabrication of tooth. The two options available for completely teeth less individual is Removable denture or Full-mouth Implants, on the other hand patients with a few teeth missing can go for Removable Partial dentures, Fixed bridges and Implants.
CRACKED OR CHIPPED TOOTH
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Cracked or chipped tooth can be caused due to excessive force exerted on the tooth due to physical trauma or biting hard food stuff.
Who is at risk – Sports person (football players, cricket players etc), people with teeth grinding habit, people who regularly eat hard food like nuts or ice-cubes are at a risk of having cracked or chipped tooth. However accidents can happen to anyone!
Prevention – Mouth Guards usage during sports and for teeth grinding habit correction prevents cracked or chipped tooth. One should avoid biting hard food stuff regularly.
Cure – A small chip might be able to be smoothed down. Your dentist can use a tooth-colored filling, a veneer or crown to shape up your smile after a larger chip. Cracks require root canal treatment and crown capping to restore the strength of the tooth. Tooth with deeper cracks may be pulled out.
BAD BREATH
Bad breath also called as ‘Halitosis’ is embarrassing. It can be caused due to gum disease, cavities, bacteria on the tongue, dry mouth, lingering food particles in the mouth, recently eaten malodorous food items, poor dental hygiene, mouth infections, acid reflux or illness.
Who are at risk – People with poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, debilitated individual who are not capable of maintaining oral hygiene.
Prevention – Proper oral hygiene maintenance, replacing your toothbrush every three months, usage of tongue scrappers. Bad breath caused by dry mouth may be prevented by chewing on gum or drinking water at regular intervals.
Cure – Resolving bad breath is dependent on its cause. For some, proper oral hygiene maintenance does the job. When dental disease or infection is the source, treatment by a dentist may be necessary.
MOUTH SORES
There are various types of sores that can appear on the gums, tongue, inner cheeks, lips, or at the bottom of the mouth. They can range from mild sores that appear due to irritation, such as biting one’s cheek, to more serious sores that are indicative of illness such as cancer of the mouth. The most common sores of the mouth include canker and cold sores which are caused due to hormonal changes, stress, weakening of the immune system, certain health conditions, or lack of vitamins such as iron or B12. Mouth sores can also be caused due to accidental biting of soft tissues of mouth, eating extremely hot food (burn sores) and Herpes Simplex Virus.
Who are at risk – Canker sores are more common in women than in men. People with sharp teeth edges. Debilitated individuals and people who have extremely hot food may develop mouth sores.
Prevention – Prevention of mouth sores depends on the type of sore. People who frequently get sores from bites to the inner cheek can prevent them by chewing more slowly and carefully. Smoothening of sharp tooth edges may also help. Using care when drinking hot foods can help prevent sores from burns. Canker and cold sores may be prevented by reducing stress, which is a trigger for both. Usage of a brush with soft bristles and correct brushing technique.
Cure – Treating simple sores that occur due to irritation typically involves soothing the irritation. A person may take over-the-counter pain relievers or gargle with cool or salt water. Sores that last for several weeks should be seen by a doctor. Treatment by medical professionals includes a mouth rinse or an ointment, depending on the condition (type and severity) of the ulcer. Until it heals, one needs to stay away from hot, spicy or acidic foods because these can irritate the sore.
WISDOM TEETH PROBLEM
The last molar or the wisdom teeth is disreputed for its painful and difficult eruption. Most people — 90% — have at least one wisdom tooth that’s impacted (A tooth that doesn't erupt properly. It usually happens when a tooth is stuck against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue) or not able to fully grow in. Problems with your wisdom teeth can cause cavities, damage to neighboring teeth, and gum disease.
Who are at risk – Wisdom tooth generally erupts between 17-25 years of age.
Prevention – There is nothing you can actually do to prevent it. Regular dental check up can help the dentist track the tooth’s progress and take necessary actions.
Cure – Removal of the tooth.
