Misaligned bites, broken teeth, and mouth ulcers are just a few of the dental problems people deal with. However, some are more common than others. In fact, you’ve likely experienced at least one of these oral health problems at some point in your life.

In this blog, we delve into some of the most common dental problems and the best ways to prevent them from occurring.

Common dental problems

Some of the most common dental problems people experience are:

1. Tooth decay
2. Gum disease
3. Sensitive teeth
4. Toothache
5. Bad breath

Tooth decay

Tooth decay, more commonly referred to as cavities, is one of the most prevalent dental health problems in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that almost 90% of adults aged 20 and older have had at least one cavity in their lifetime.

Cavities occur when hard areas of the teeth develop tiny holes. This can be the result of poor oral health care at home (such as not brushing or flossing, consuming sugary treats, too much snacking throughout the day, not using toothpaste with fluoride, and neglecting dentist appointments. When left untreated, cavities can cause infections, tooth pain, and even tooth loss over time.

The good news is that cavities are preventable! Small changes in lifestyle such as choosing a toothpaste with fluoride, picking healthier snacking options, and regularly seeing a dentist are your best protection against this common dental problem.

Gum disease

Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection of the soft tissues (gums) that hold your teeth in place. This can lead to red, swollen, and bleeding gums in the beginning. Over time, teeth may become loose and need to be removed if the infection is not treated.

In the United States, nearly half of the adult population aged 30 and older show the beginning signs of gum disease. Luckily, gum disease can be treated in its early stages with a good oral hygiene routine at home and regular visits to the dentist. If not treated early, more invasive procedures to clear the infection may be needed. For more information about gum disease, check out this blog.

Sensitive teeth

If you have pain when you eat something hot, cold, sweet, or sour, you may have tooth sensitivity. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that 40 million people living in the United States have had some degree of tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity is usually caused when the hard enamel on the outside of a tooth is worn down, or gum (gingiva) recession exposes the root surface of teeth. As the enamel thins, small tubes in the teeth can become exposed, which causes the pain felt when eating or drinking certain foods and beverages. In severe cases, the sensitivity can become so painful that it affects the way people eat and drink.

There are ways to treat sensitive teeth at home. The most common treatment is to use desensitizing toothpaste and toothbrushes with medium or soft bristles. At the dentist’s office, your oral health care team can apply desensitizing treatments such as sealants or stannous fluoride. If you experience any new or worsening tooth sensitivity or pain, it’s important to see your dentist to make sure there are no other issues that could be causing the discomfort.

Toothache

Tooth pain (usually referred to as a toothache) is another common dental problem 40% of Americans experience each year. Toothaches can cause mild to severe discomfort, depending on what the cause is. For example, a piece of food lodged between teeth can cause slight discomfort, while an infection in the tooth can be excruciating.

Most of the time, toothaches will resolve on their own and can be treated at home by remedies like saltwater rinses, cold compressions, and pain-relief medication. However, if the toothache is caused by something serious such as an infection, cavity, or tooth abscess, immediate treatment from a dentist will be needed.

If you have recurring toothaches, be sure to let your dental team know. Although toothaches are common, it’s important to make sure there are no underlying reasons for them.

Bad breath

Bad breath is normal after a meal filled with garlic, onions, or other strong-smelling foods. However, chronic bad breath could be a sign of a more serious oral health problem. One in four people have bad breath that doesn’t seem to go away with common remedies.

In most cases, chronic bad breath is caused by neglecting both a good oral hygiene routine and seeing the dentist for cleanings.  If you have a good oral health care routine and a healthy mouth, bad breath may be linked to a different area in the body. Dry mouth, certain head and neck cancers, digestive disorders, gum disease, diabetes, and tonsil stones are other causes of the condition.

Bad breath is generally treated at home by improving dental hygiene routines and by seeing the dentist at least once a year. In some cases, a special mouth rinse can be used to kill bacteria in your mouth. If it’s caused by another condition, your dentist may recommend a visit to your general care physician to check for other problems in the body that may be the cause.

Most common dental problems are preventable

The good news about most common dental problems is that they’re preventable. A good oral health care routine, regularly seeing a dentist, and making healthy choices for your mouth and body can reduce the risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and other conditions.

If preventive measures aren’t enough, it’s important to have an oral health care team to turn to. Learn more about our dental plans to keep your teeth and mouth healthy now and in the future.

Exercise and good nutrition keep your body healthy. Brushing and flossing keep your teeth healthy. What about the health of your tongue? Believe it or not, your tongue’s health is also important to your oral health.

Why is your tongue important?

Like other essential body parts, the tongue is considered a sensory and digestive organ equipped with several functions. Beyond just being the accessory of a silly or sassy gesture, your tongue helps you to:

• Eat and drink: The tongue allows you to consume foods and liquids by moving them to either your teeth to chew or the back of your throat to swallow.
• Taste: Small bumps known as papillae and taste buds occupy the dorsal mucosal surface, allowing you to taste.
• Digest: By moving food from the mouth to the pharynx, the tongue is the first step in the digestion process.
• Speak: Due to its agility and flexibility, the tongue works with the lips and teeth to produce “more than 90 words per minute.”
• Clean: The tongue also helps keep your mouth clean by sweeping the internal surface and pushing debris to the throat.

How to care for your tongue

Maintaining proper tongue health is just as important as caring for any other part of your body.

Did you know that your tongue is covered in bacteria? The tongue contains just as much bacteria as our teeth, making it a part of the mouth that should be cared for daily. However, unlike your teeth, an unwashed tongue does not put you at risk of cavities. It can lead to chronic bad breath, oral thrush, dulled taste buds, and even periodontal disease.

Although your tongue can self-clean, it’s essential to take these extra steps to keep it fresh and healthy:

• Brush regularly: Brushing your teeth twice a day is essential for tongue health and overall good oral hygiene. Don’t neglect your tongue when brushing, as it could lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease. When brushing your tongue, start by placing the brush at the back of your tongue and lightly moving the toothbrush back and forth in a brushing motion.
• Rinse thoroughly: After cleaning your tongue, take a sip of water and swish it around your mouth to rinse away any remaining bacteria left over from cleaning.
• Drink water: We know that drinking water regularly is essential to keeping your body functioning. Drinking water also helps keep your tongue healthy and clean by moving any food or debris particles into the digestive system.
• Try a tongue scraper: Although not a necessary step in your oral care routine, many people enjoy using tongue scrapers to remove mucus on the top of the tongue. Start by placing the tongue scraper at the back of the tongue and gently pulling forward. It’s important to use enough pressure to successfully remove any build-up but not to push so hard that your tongue begins to feel sore.

In the past, many people separated the health of their mouths from the health of their bodies. Luckily, today there is a better understanding of the connection between the two. You cannot have a healthy body with an unhealthy mouth, particularly when it comes to certain oral health diseases.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one example of an oral health problem that can affect the whole body. Think of it as a silent health assassin. Without regular checkups at a dentist, you may not even know you have periodontal disease, especially because it is often considered a painless condition until it worsens.

Catching and treating gum disease early is important for your entire body. Keep reading to find out how this disease can be silently attacking your overall health.

Gum disease and overall health problems

Gum disease has been linked to many serious types of medical conditions that can severely impact your overall health.

Gum disease and diabetes

People who have diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing gum disease compared to those who do not have diabetes. This may be because diabetics typically have a harder time when it comes to preventing infections. Additionally, gum disease may make it harder to control blood sugar, which increases the risk of diabetic complications.

To learn more about diabetes and gum disease, check out this blog.

Gum disease and heart disease

Gum disease is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Research suggests that inflammation in the body caused by gum disease can precede major cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes. Another reason may be that bacteria from gum disease can travel through the bloodstream to the heart, which can infect heart valves. Although the link between the two is not fully understood, medical professionals agree that gum disease negatively impacts heart health.

Gum disease and osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis is a medical disease in which bones become fragile and brittle. In some cases, bones can become so weak that a sneeze can fracture bones. Osteoporosis is usually caused by aging, hormones, and calcium and vitamin D deficiency. However, studies have found that gum disease is also a major risk factor. The inflammation caused by gum disease may impact bone homeostasis, or the creation of new bone, throughout the body. There are other mechanisms at play that scientists are working to better understand.

Gum disease and respiratory disease

Gum disease can impact your lungs and make existing lung problems worse. This is because bacteria can be inhaled and absorbed by the lungs through tiny saliva droplets. Once the bacteria reaches the lungs, an infection can occur, especially if the organs have previous damage.

Recently, it has been found that people with severe gum disease are more likely to have serious complications from COVID-19, including the need for a ventilator or having an increased risk of dying from the virus.

Gum disease and cancer

People with gum disease may have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, specifically cancers of the stomach and esophagus. According to a study from Harvard University, the bacteria from gum disease can negatively impact gut health. The observational study found that people with gum disease were 43% more likely to develop esophageal cancer and 52% more likely to develop stomach cancer compared to those with healthy gums.

Catching gum disease early is important for overall health

The best way to prevent gum disease from attacking your body is to catch and treat it early. Here are some of the best ways to catch the disease:

Visit your dentist. Regular visits to your dentist are the best way to prevent and/or identify periodontal disease. During the checkup, they will check for gingivitis, which is an early form of periodontal disease. Your dentist will also help by cleaning your teeth and gums, effectively removing the plaque that causes gum disease in the first place.

Consider the symptoms. Do you have pain when chewing? Are you experiencing bad breath? Do your gums bleed after brushing your teeth or feel tender or puffy? You may have periodontal disease.

Paying attention to any changes in your mouth, like sudden pain when eating or a newly discovered loose tooth, will help you gauge the state of your oral health. If you start to notice any of these symptoms persisting, it’s time to see your dentist.

Know your habits. People who rarely maintain their teeth and gums, those who smoke or chew tobacco, women who are pregnant, folks on certain medications, and many who have specific conditions like those mentioned above are at risk for periodontal disease. If you fall into one of these risk categories, you’ll have to be more diligent about preventive measures.

How to prevent gum disease

Preventing gum disease can be easy. Regular visits to the dentist, a proper oral care routine, and paying attention to your body are all that are required of you. If you suspect you have gum disease, it’s important to contact your dentist as soon as possible for an evaluation.

People who have dental coverage are more likely to visit their dentist on time. They’re also more likely to avoid dental problems in the future. To find a provider in your area, use our handy search tool.

Looking for more information on gum disease? Learn about how to stop gum recession.

Have you ever canceled a dentist appointment because you felt your teeth were fine as they were? Because unhealthy teeth may not always present physical symptoms, many people ignore their oral health and take their teeth for granted. However, having a false sense of security that your teeth are healthy may lead to various problems that can impact your day-to-day life and overall wellbeing. Let’s take a peek at what a life with unhealthy teeth might look like.

Say goodbye to your favorite foods

Think of some of your favorite foods to indulge in. Now picture not being able to enjoy these foods because of limitations on what you can and can’t chew. Oral health issues like “tooth loss, gum disease, and cavities” can directly impact what you’re able to eat. Many people with loose or missing teeth have to switch to a diet full of soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow, which could mean less of your favorite chocolate bars or chips and salsas.

Less social interaction

For many, a neglected smile can be a reason to avoid conversations, negatively impacting their social life and mental health. According to the American Dental Association, 23% of adults feel embarrassed of the condition of their mouth and teeth, and 25% avoid smiling altogether because of these feelings.

Chronic mouth pain

Unhealthy teeth can cause severe pain in the mouth, often in the form of toothaches. Toothaches can be a consequence of poor oral health, often caused by tooth decay, cracked teeth, loose or broken fillings, or even bacterial infections. Toothaches can also occur when the pulp in your tooth becomes infected with bacteria, and because the nerves inside your teeth are sensitive, the pain can be extremely serious. If left untreated, toothaches can spread throughout the whole body, leading to more severe health issues down the line.

Shorter lifespan

There’s no doubt that tooth loss can affect quality of life, with side effects like difficulty chewing food, embarrassment, and pain, but can your teeth actually impact the length of your life?

Recent studies have found that your number of teeth can correlate to your life expectancy. Specifically, results showed “those with 20 teeth or more at the age of 70 had a considerably higher chance of living longer than those with fewer than 20 teeth.”

Keep your teeth healthy with proper oral health care

Taking proper care of your teeth is essential for maintaining good oral health. Simple habits like brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, limiting sugary food and drinks, and avoiding smoking can go a long way in keeping your teeth healthy. Additionally, it’s important to visit the dentist at least once a year for check-ups and cleanings, even if you think your teeth are fine.

Dental insurance can provide financial support for both routine visits and unexpected dental emergencies. Find a Delta Dental provider near you today.