Maintaining great oral health is important if you want overall bodily health. The mouth is the gateway to the entire body. That means keeping your pearly whites and gums strong. Although it’s nearly impossible to remove all bad bacteria from the mouth, it’s essential to have a great hygienic regimen to prevent you from developing any of the symptoms below.
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Bad Breath
Bad breath, also known as halitosis affects approximately 30% of people around the world. This condition is the foul smelling odor that arises from the mouth, typically triggered by bad bacteria or food that lingers in the mouth. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, over 90% of halitosis cases stem from the odor that originates from the throat, mouth or tonsils.
Stopping bad breath is easy. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day can help keep your mouth clean and free from bacteria. When brushing your teeth it’s important to brush the tongue because it holds the most bacteria in the entire mouth!
Chewing on a minty gum or munching on an apple or celery can help mask the smell of foul breath for a short time but it will not fully alleviate it. Brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth after eating certain odor-causing foods such as garlic or onions will help to remove the smell.
If you have consistent bad breath and have used the appropriate remedies that help alleviate the symptoms, it may be a sign of a deeper health concern. The four main reasons for having a smelly breath are:
- Dry Mouth
- Food
- Poor Dental Hygiene
- Illness and Disease
Identifying the symptoms of halitosis is important in removing the risk of other major bodily concern, such as an infection or even diseases. Speak to your dental professional if you have any critical concerns.
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Canker Sores
A canker sore is a small circular scrap that develops inside the soft tissue of the mouth or at the base of the gum line. Healthcare professionals don’t know the direct cause that will make these sores develop. But it’s known that they can be triggered by emotional stress, by a woman’s menstruation cycle or tissue injury.
According to Colgate, canker sores can run in the family and they can develop several times a year. There is no way to prevent this painful sore and it typically goes away after 2 weeks. Canker sores are sometimes confused with cold sores which are often caused by an infection or virus.
There’s no specific treatment that can heal the sore. To reduce the discomfort you can rinse your mouth with warm water or use over-the-counter, pain-relieving gels such as the Oral Gel brand. Those who may have larger canker sores may have a steroid prescribed by their healthcare professional in order to get relief from the discomfort.
If you have never had canker sores before and had one for the first time or if other symptoms such as fever and rashes arise with sores, contact your health care professional.
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Missing Teeth
178 million Americans have at least 1 missing tooth and 35 million people have more than 1. Losing a tooth can be caused by physical injury, disease and more. In fact, if you don’t replace your missing teeth, you may develop further complications such as bone loss and jaw deterioration.
There are plenty of solutions that can help to replace a missing tooth, to include:
- Dental Implants
- Bridges
- Dentures
- Complete Dentures
- Removable Partial Dentures
If you have missing teeth, it’s important to get them replaced as soon as possible before other complications occur.
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Yellow Teeth
Yellow teeth is an issue that many Americans suffer from. There are many causes that can affect the color of your teeth, some external and internal issues.
One external contributor is smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking causes more deaths than alcohol use, firearm incidents or drug use combined. When a person smokes the dangerous contents found within a with the cigarette will darken your teeth over time.
An internal reason for yellow teeth can be due to an illness. Some foods with heavy pigments can contribute to teeth discolorations. Some of these foods include curry spices, tomato sauces and berries can stain your teeth is consumed over time.
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Teeth Grinding
If you consume hot or cold food and experience a slight pain in your tooth, you maybe have tooth sensitivity. This disorder can also occur when a person is awake, and this is considered a nervous habit. Teeth grinding, on the other hand, is the act of forcefully rubbing together the upper and lower teeth repeatedly.
If you suffer from the symptoms of this disorder during the day, it’s important to safeguard your teeth. Most dentists recommend their patients to use a mouth guard teeth-clenchers and grinders because it reduces the amount of pressure from grinding or clenching.
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Toothaches
If you have tooth discomforts, the cause can vary. Cavities are usually the first culprit of a toothache. A cavity is a hole that develops in the middle of the tooth when it starts to decay. The hole typically requires a dental professional to fill in the cavity.
Another reason for a toothache can be having sensitive teeth. If you experience discomfort when consuming hot or cold foods then you may have tooth sensitivity. This issue is caused when the dentin of the tooth (the layer underneath the enamel) is exposed. The dentin is the part of the tooth that is connected to nerve endings.
Paying a visit to your dentist is important in order to rule out any major complications.
Contact Us
Protecting your oral health is very important. If you have any of the symptoms or any questions on any common dental issues call our office today. Our doctors and staff are available to provide the best treatment to alleviate your symptom.