Skip to main content

What Are The 5 Most Common Oral Health Problems?

Your mouth’s health can impact your overall health, so it’s important to schedule frequent appointments with your dentist before you experience several health problems.

Discover how you can prevent oral health problems.

How Can I Prevent Oral Health Problems?

Dealing with dental problems is never fun, but the good news is most of them are preventable. The best preventative measures you can take are brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, eating properly, and scheduling biannual check-ups. Additionally, you should learn about the most common oral health conditions; this will help you be prepared if you start experiencing complications.

Stay tuned to learn about the five most common oral health problems.

1. Mouth Ulcers

A mouth ulcer is a small, white sore with red edges that develops inside the cheeks and on the lips, tongue, palate, and gums. Despite their small size, mouth ulcers are painful and uncomfortable. It becomes nearly impossible to try eating food and drinking beverages because they usually become more painful over time.

Talk to your doctor if your sores don’t go away after two weeks.

2. Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums. Unfortunately, it’s one of the leading causes of tooth loss among adults. Worst of all, there’s a link between gum disease and heart disease.

Although everyone is at risk of this disease, it’s most common in people who are older than 30. Smoking increases your risk of contracting this disease.
Symptoms include:

● Bad breath
● Red, swollen gums
● Sensitive teeth
● Painful chewing

3. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is the second most prevalent disease in the U.S. It occurs when plaque, which is the sticky film that forms on teeth, combines with the sugars or starches found in food. This combination produces acids that can attack your teeth’s enamel.

Many people mistakenly believe only children get cavities; however, people of any age can get them, particularly when their enamel erodes.

4. Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem that affects millions of Americans. People with this condition experience pain or discomfort when:

● They eat sweets
● They drink hot beverages or cold drinks
● They eat cold foods, such as ice cream
● They’re exposed to wind
● They brush or floss their teeth

5. Abscessed Teeth

An abscessed tooth is an infection caused by either tooth decay, gum disease, or a cracked tooth. These problems can pave the way for bacteria to enter the pulp, which is a tooth’s soft tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues.

When pus builds up at the root tip in the jawbone, it forms a pocket called an abscess. If left untreated, it can lead to an infected jawbone, teeth, and surrounding tissues.

Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah Can Help

Although some oral issues like sores go away on their own, others may require surgery. If your dentist determines you need oral surgery, Oral & Facial Surgery of Utah can help you find relief. Our board-certified surgeons specialize in jaw surgery, tooth extraction, dental implant insertion, and several other procedures. Schedule your free consultation today.

Tags:

Comments are closed.

Click to open and close visual accessibility options. The options include increasing font-size and color contrast.