What Exactly is Dental Disease?
Dental disease includes dental caries (cavities), developmental enamel defects, dental erosion, and diseases of the surrounding bone and tissues of the mouth, throat and teeth (periodontal disease) and jaw.
Dental disease can impact every aspect of life. It can lower self-confidence and make it difficult to interact and develop relationships with others in school, work and personal life, and if not managed well, can also result in a negative financial impact. Dental disease can also have an impact on overall health, significantly increasing your chances of developing complications like heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and a host of other health issues. But it doesn’t have to. Dental disease is 100% preventable.
People often visit the dentist for a routine check-ups and teeth cleanings and are surprised to learn that they need treatment such as a tooth fillings, root canal therapy, gum treatment or dental crowns, even when they are not experiencing any pain or sensitivity. This means, it is particularly important to have regular dental check-ups and cleanings for prevention or timely intervention – this also reduces the chances of emergency dental visits and unexpected costs.
Did you know, dental disease is more common than hay fever or asthma? Between 60-90 percent of school aged children and nearly 100 percent of adults have at least one cavity.
What are the Main Causes of Dental Disease?
- Tobacco
- Poor oral care habits
- Frequent snacking on sugary foods and drinks
- Diabetes
- Some medications
- Family history and genetics
- Certain infections, such HIV and AIDS
- Hormonal changes in women, including pregnancy
- Acid reflux
Symptoms of Dental Disease
Though, there are times when symptoms and pain from dental disease are not present, many times they are. Here are 10 common examples of symptoms to be aware of that could be caused from dental disease:
- Bad breath
- Pain or sensitivity in teeth or gums
- Bleeding gum when brushing teeth
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Receding gums lines
- Red or swollen gums
- Mouth sores
- Dry mouth
- Cracked or broken teeth (pain biting/chewing)
- Brown, black or white staining on the surface of teeth
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please reach out to a dental care provider as soon as possible to address the issue(s).
How to Prevent Dental Disease
You have the power to take control of your oral health. The number one way to prevent dental disease is by visiting the dentist every six to 12 months for a check-up and cleaning, paired with good oral health habits at home. Continue reading about the things you can do at home to support your oral heath.
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This blog is designed to provide general information and discussions about health and dental-related subjects. No doctor/dentist to patient relationship is established by your use of this blog or website. We are not providing any treatment or diagnosis on this blog, and it is not intended to offer specific dental or medical advice to anyone. The information or other content provided in this blog is not a substitute for professional dental expertise or treatment. We will do our best to provide you with information that will help you make your own healthcare decisions, however no guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within this blog. If you have questions about any of the information presented on this blog, you should consult with your dentist. The dentists at Advantage Dental+ are licensed to practice in the states of Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas and Washington and this blog is not intended to solicit patients from other states. External links may be provided on this blog as a service and convenience to our patients and other visitors to our blog. These external sites are created and maintained by other public and private organizations, and we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance or timeliness of any outside information.
