It is nice to see a person with a snow-white smile, because the health of the oral cavity is an indicator of the condition of the whole organism. Therefore, we are taught to look after her from early childhood. Despite this, many face fairly common problems.
Oral Health: 7 Challenges
As dentists with many years of experience have noted, the main problems with teeth are:
- with the destruction of hard tissue - caries;
- plaque;
- erosion;
- curvatures;
- mechanical damage;
- gum disease;
- implanted structures.
Let's talk about them in more detail.
Caries: emergence and consequences
We often hear the word “caries” from TV screens. Almost every paste advertisement claims that the disease must be fought, otherwise you can lose your dental health, and this is a true statement. Our teeth are made up of hard tissue that can break down over time. This occurs under the influence of acid formed by eating sugary foods and foods containing starchy components. Initially, destructive processes affect the enamel coating, then corrode the pulp. Infectious microorganisms, penetrating deeper, cause pain, which is sometimes very difficult to tolerate.
Changing the health of teeth affected by caries is the most common problem today. Foods with a high sugar content began to predominate in our diet, and snacks only contribute to a greater formation of bacteria that produce acid. Although enamel has the ability to recover, but constant food debris slows down this process.
Cracked teeth are the most vulnerable areas of acid clusters, where bacteria form a white coating, gradually turning into stones. Dental problems, namely caries, cause discomfort in the oral cavity and contribute to the destruction of enamel.
What does the plaque on the teeth say?
The opinion that the color of the teeth should be snow-white, according to dentists, is erroneous. In nature, there are various shades of tooth enamel. It can be both snow-white and yellowish, and sometimes even gray. Some people note a gradual darkening of the teeth, this is due to a change in color not of enamel, but of dentin.
Dentin (translated from Latin - “tooth”) - the main hard tissue with a thickness of up to 6 mm, supporting enamel. Darkening of the dentin from the inside indicates inflammatory processes. In most older people, darkening is characterized by age-related changes.
An excess of fluoride in pastes can cause white or brown spots. It is very important to monitor the health of the teeth , because even a change in their color has certain reasons. For example, brown spots indicate bleeding processes in the pulp area. Blood, accumulating in the dentin, leads to the death of the tooth.
Care should be taken with medications that also provoke a color change. So, problems with teeth in preschool children can cause the use of "Tetracycline."
An unpleasant yellow coating may occur due to the frequent use of drinks with a coloring effect (coffee, tea, wine). Those who want to have the perfect tooth color should refuse or at least reduce the amount of consumption of such products.
Problems with baby teeth in children can occur at the neck, since plaque accumulates here. Its appearance is associated with bacterial activity, but it is easily removed with a brush.
Brown plaque is also formed by tobacco smoke lovers. As a rule, smokers have an unpleasant shade of teeth .
Erosion
The food that we eat does not harm our oral cavity, but there are still products that can cause the destruction of enamel. These include high-acid foods and drinks. The abuse of citrus fruits, sweets, juices leads to dental diseases. Acid, getting to the surface, begins to destroy their structure. This process is not associated with the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity, it depends on the content of excessive acid compounds in the products, which, causing problems with the teeth, can deprive us of the opportunity to have a great smile.
Bruxism (grinding of teeth at night) also contributes to wear. The habit arises against the background of stressful situations. A constant gnash erases the enamel coating. On sale there are special devices, attaching which can be protected from erosion.
Shape warp
Nature first gives us milk teeth, which over time are replaced by permanent ones. In the practice of dentists, cases of their improper growth are repeatedly found. The problem with the teeth in the form of a curvature forces parents to seek help from an orthodontist. As a rule, the most frequent patients of such specialists are children 11-12 years old. Molar teeth have already erupted in their oral cavity.
Sometimes treating such a problem requires the removal of certain teeth. Special brackets that the doctor sets will help eliminate the causes of problems with uneven teeth. The period of wearing such structures is determined by the orthodontist, but, as a rule, the row is aligned a year or two.
Mechanical damage
Destruction often occurs as a result of an impact, when one or more teeth can break. Do not delay the visit to the dentist, because problems with the teeth are urgent. Inflammatory processes after an injury can bring not only pain, but also require the removal of a fragment.
The older we get, the more the gum tissue wears out, and sensitivity increases at the roots. Injured by a blow, a loose tooth should not be loosened constantly. Only a doctor can solve problems with mechanically damaged teeth. He will determine the degree and severity of the injury and the treatment options.
Gum disease
Plaque, inflammation, bleeding and swollen gums cause various problems with the teeth. The most common gum disease is gingivitis. To this state, a negligent attitude to oral hygiene is foreseen:
- irregular dental care;
- non-observance of a certain sequence of cleaning the organs of the oral cavity;
- the use of low-quality pastes and hygiene products.
With poor-quality plaque removal, it hardens, gradually it turns into stone, which is very difficult to remove on your own. Such a manipulation will help only a dentist, using special tools.
Constant bleeding of the gums indicates the occurrence of periodontitis, when the periosteum is damaged by bacteria. The tooth is separated from the gums, and pathogenic bacteria and microbes penetrate into the cavity. According to statistics from the Association of Dentists, periodontitis is the most common oral disease and causes loosening of teeth in people who are not yet 40 years old.
Implanted structures
Like any branch of medicine, dentistry does not stand still. The operation to install implants became widespread and in demand. Such innovations allow us to restore the aesthetic appearance of the oral cavity, while not grinding and without violating the structure of neighboring teeth.
However, possible problems with dental implants should be noted:
- the likelihood of discrepancies in sutures due to a careless attitude of the patient in the postoperative period;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules for the care of implants;
- failure to follow the doctor's recommendations;
- individual intolerance by an organism of a foreign body;
- later complications include peri-implantitis and rejection of the implant itself.
Moreover, rejection of a foreign body and periimplantitis can occur both in the lower and upper jaw and do not depend on the cost of the implant itself.
However, despite the expensive cost of the procedure, many strive to get a sparkling smile, the ability to chew food quietly. But the complications after surgery directly depend not only on the doctor who performed the implantation, but also on the patient himself, his ability to care for a new smile and maintain the hygiene of the oral cavity.
In case of problems, the help of a doctor is mandatory, because a foreign body can cause a violent reaction in the body, the outcome of which may not be in favor of the patient.