Your teeth are a valuable asset that requires proper care and attention. Unlike other parts of your body, they cannot regrow once damaged, making it crucial to take preventive measures. Neglecting your oral health can lead to painful and costly dental problems.

Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices are key to maintaining healthy teeth and avoiding future issues.

Tooth decay

Many people go to their dentist every year because of tooth decay. 

Food particles can lodge themselves in the nooks and crannies of your mouth as you eat. Microorganisms found in your mouth then digest this and release acids.

The acid corrodes your enamel and sometimes even goes deeper. This is seen as tooth decay and cavities. When you have cavities, you can experience severe tooth pain, sensitivity, bad breath and numerous other problems.

The best way to avoid cavities is through regular care of your teeth. Rinse your mouth after each meal, brush twice a day and regularly floss.

Bad breath

While bad breath may not necessarily be problematic, it is irritating and can quite often signal some underlying serious issue. 

Bad breath can be caused by many different things like bad oral hygiene, acid reflux, side effects of medicines, and even cancer. It may also just be because of all the garlic and onion you ate for lunch.

Cleaning your mouth regularly can help prevent this, but if the problem has persisted for too long, a comprehensive assessment by your dental care provider can help reveal the true culprit. 

Sensitivity

Usually, sensitivity is because of something small and not serious. There is a chance that it is caused by a cavity or gum disease. 

Generally, it is best to get the recommendation of your doctor if you are facing sensitivity. If the cause of tooth sensitivity is not serious, they might just prescribe a good desensitizing toothpaste. 

We strongly recommend Smile Brilliant’s products for underlying causes of tooth sensitivity like gum disease or bruxism. Their dental probiotics give superior protection from gum diseases. If teeth-grinding is the cause, you can opt for Smile Brilliant night guards.

Gum disease

A fairly common problem, gum disease if not treated properly in the initial stages could grow to become something more severe. Advanced stages can result in loose and even falling teeth.

Symptoms to look out for are bad breath, loose teeth, tooth pain, red or swollen gums and pus.

It is a preventable illness and keeping your mouth clean through regular practices such as brushing, flossing and rinsing is the surest way to prevent the disease as it is largely caused by plaque and bad oral hygiene.

Stained teeth

A lot of people want to get whiter teeth. Stained or yellow teeth sometimes affect your confidence. 

There are a few popular methods of teeth whitening. One is a tooth whitening cream paired with light radiation and the other is a bleach. These are available at most common stores and pharmacies. But whitening toothpaste generally only removes surface stains. 

If you have sensitive teeth, be very careful while selecting teeth whitening treatments or your situation could get worse. Instead of trying random products off the shelf, go for Smile Brilliant’s teeth whitening trays and gel that have been specifically designed and formulated for sensitive teeth. 

Chipped tooth

Did you know, teeth are also bones and are part of the human skeletal system?

But still, despite being the strongest bone in the entire human skeletal system, teeth sometimes chip and break. 

Generally, small chips do not affect daily life and the regular functioning of your teeth. However, serious larger ones should be fixed. 

Your doctor will tell you whether you need to have your chip fixed and what type of fix you require. If your tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may recommend a full crown replacement.

Too many teeth or too few teeth

Most adults have around 32 teeth. Generally, the number could vary from 28-32, and that’s within the normal range. 

Some people, though, have fewer teeth (hypodontia), and others have more (hyperdontia). Not having an incisor or having an extra molar can really cause serious problems. 

It may hinder you from chewing properly, affect how your teeth are positioned, and sometimes may even cause the loosening of other teeth.

Your dental care provider can help rectify this problem by extracting the excess teeth or implanting some new ones.

Oral cancer

A growing problem, oral cancer, is an incredibly dangerous condition. Smokers and those who drink alcohol have a significantly higher likelihood of being a victim of this illness.

A regular checkup can help in identifying cancer early. Still, you should also look out for some symptoms like the sudden eruption of sores and lumps, difficulty in tasting, pain and so on. 

Not drinking alcohol and not smoking or consuming tobacco are two very important steps you can take to avoid oral cancer.

Bad smile

Like stained teeth, a bad smile can also affect your confidence and personality. 

Many options are available nowadays to fix a bad smile. Dental treatments or procedures such as dental implants or braces can fix your smile. Cosmetic procedures can also make drastic improvements. 

Your dental health care provider can best recommend what you should do to fix your smile.

Wisdom teeth

Statistics show that less than 10% of adults face no problems when their wisdom teeth emerge which means a large majority of the population is affected by wisdom teeth-related issues. 

Wisdom teeth can often cause serious dental problems such as affecting nearby teeth, grinding, causing stress on your gums, and tremendous pain. 

Sometimes, wisdom teeth can even cause cavities and gum disease. If your wisdom tooth is causing any problems, head straight to the dentist.

Takeaway

Maintaining your teeth and identifying any dental problems early on is of utmost importance. After all, prevention is certainly better than cure.

Brushing twice every day, flossing regularly and avoiding sugars, tobacco and alcohol are some steps you can take to protect your oral health.

Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.