read about the causes and symptoms of dental diseases and tips to protect dental health

World Oral Health Day: Causes and Symptoms of Dental Diseases and Tips to Protect Dental Health

Dental health care is an essential constituent of our well-being. Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental cavities, gum disease, and holding your breath- diabetes, heart disease, and cancer!

It’s a lifelong commitment to keep your teeth healthy. Our teeth are related to our overall health and wellbeing. The earlier you start practicing oral hygiene habits like brushing, flossing, and limiting your sugar intake, the easier it will be to avoid costly dental procedures later in your life. On World Oral Health Day, March 20th, let us learn about the causes and symptoms of dental diseases, how dental health affects other diseases, and how to protect our dental health in this blog.

Facts About Dental Health

According to the WHO-

  • Almost all adults have at least one dental cavity, while this figure is in about 60-90 percent of school-aged children.
  • Severe gum disease affects between 15% and 20% of adults aged 35 to 44.
  • About 30% of people from the 65-74 age group don’t have any natural teeth.
  • 1-10 cases of oral cancer occur in every 1000 people.

Causes of Dental and Oral Diseases

The primary cause of dental diseases includes bacteria, viruses, and fungi that colonize your oral cavity. At the same time, some of them belong there as part of your mouth’s normal flora and are safe in small amounts. On the other hand, a high-sugar diet fosters the growth of acid-producing bacteria, which dissolves the tooth enamel, resulting in dental cavities and further tooth decay.

Dental and oral diseases

Our teeth may go bad if we don’t properly care for them. However, we can avoid most dental problems by practicing good oral hygiene. However, we will almost certainly have at least one dental problem in our lives.

Cavities

The tooth areas permanently damaged have holes in them, called cavities. Cavities are a fairly common occurrence and are called the caries of tooth decay. When bacteria, food, and acid combine to form plaque on your teeth, the acid begins to erode the enamel, which can cause permanent damage over time.

Periodontal disease (gingivitis)

Gingivitis, or gum disease, refers to the inflammation of the gums. Usual causes include plaque buildup on your teeth due to poor brushing and flossing habits, consequently causing your gums to swell and bleed.

Periodontitis

Gingivitis, if left untreated, can progress to periodontitis, a more severe infection. Periodontitis can spread to your jaw and bones, thereby causing an inflammatory response all over the body.

Cracked or broken teeth

An injury to the mouth, chewing hard foods, or nighttime teeth grinding can cause a tooth to crack or break. A cracked tooth can be excruciatingly painful and must be consulted with a dentist as soon as possible.

Sensitive Teeth

A very common occurrence, sensitive teeth mean experiencing pain or discomfort after consuming cold or hot foods or beverages. Dentin hypersensitivity is another term for tooth sensitivity that can happen temporarily after a root canal, or a filling procedure is completed. Worn-down fillings, receding gums, gum disease, can also lead to sensitive teeth. Some people are born with sensitive teeth due to thin enamel. This natural tooth sensitivity can be corrected with a change in your daily oral hygiene routine. A good idea is to use specially designed toothpaste and mouthwash brands for sensitive teeth.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancers include cancer of the floor of the mouth, gums, cheek, tongue, and the lips.

A dentist is usually the first person to notice signs of oral cancer. The leading cause includes tobacco use which includes smoking and chewing tobacco.

Dental Disease Symptoms

If you have chronic bad breath, sudden sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures or beverages, ulcers, sores, or tender areas in the mouth that do not heal in a week or two, you may be heading for a teeth decay.

Other symptoms include swelling of the face and cheek, cracked or broken teeth, frequent dry mouth, bleeding, or swollen gums after brushing or flossing, pain or toothache, loose teeth, receding gums, pain with chewing or biting; you should see a dentist as soon as possible.

Conditions associated with Oral Health

Your oral health may be one of the causes of a variety of diseases and conditions, which include:

  • Pregnancy and childbirth complications– Dental pain and injuries among expectant mothers can cause premature birth and low birth weight in children when they are born.
  • Pneumonia- The tooth infection bacteria may seep its way into the lungs and cause respiratory diseases.
  • Diabetes- Diabetes may increase the frequency and severity of gum disease, weakening the body’s resistance to infection putting your gums at risk.
  • Endocarditis- It is the infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves. Endocarditis usually happens when bacteria or germs from another part of your body spread through your bloodstream and attach to different heart parts.
  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD)- Some research suggests that inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria can lead to heart disease, clogged arteries, and, more seriously, a stroke.
  • HIV/AIDS- Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common with HIV AIDS patients.

Keeping your Dental Health Safe

  • Practice good oral hygiene daily to protect your oral health; this includes brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste.
  • Mouthwash is an excellent way to remove food particles that stay inside the mouth and teeth after brushing and flossing.
  • Consume a healthy diet and limit your intake of foods and beverages laden with sugar and sticky substances like flour.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are worn or splayed.
  • Stop smoking and avoid tobacco use.

Gigadocs for Dental Health

Gigadocs offers remote dental care support for existing and new patients. Our expert tele-dentists consult patients over a phone and a video call and constantly monitor the patient’s condition, the performance of preventive and control check-ups, and storage of the medical records. Gigadocs teleconsultation allows dentists to securely receive videos, photos, X-rays, and other information from the patients.

To help you manage your health in the best way possible, download the Gigadocs App from:

To know more and schedule a Virtual Consultation demo, Email @ info@gigadocs.com

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