WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN DENTAL PROBLEMS?
Often patients say they don’t have a problem. They want to get their teeth checked. Unfortunately, these patients often develop tooth and bone decay due to gum infections. The human body is highly resistant to bacterial infections. As such, it doesn’t show any pain until the infection begins to invade the tooth’s nerve. So we want to see our patients every 6 months. This way, we can prevent potential dental problems before they escalate into serious problems. The only way to spot them is to see a dentist, which is why it shouldn’t be limited to times when you have sensitivity, toothache, or any other noticeable symptom.
Unlike obvious physical conditions, such as a broken arm, many dental problems are invisible and have no symptoms. There is no pain until the problem becomes severe and you need major and possibly expensive invasive dental treatment. When it comes to dentistry, you never want to “wait and see”. Once symptoms appear, it is often too late for minor repairs. The options available to your dentist are greatly reduced. This means you may have to undergo a procedure your dentist can usually save you from. This is not a situation you need to find yourself in. Either way, the treatment will be painless and comfortable. However, the more time and/or dental visits you may need, the more serious the problem will be.
WORST CASE
The best way to illustrate potential dental problems is one of the most common – toothache. When you have a toothache, bacteria have eaten all the way to the tooth’s nerve. You may need to remove a root canal if you want to save the tooth or have the tooth extracted and implanted to replace it. Before a toothache occurs, you may be able to ignore some sensitivity to heat and cold or chewing. These can be early symptoms of tooth decay or a mild infection, which can be treated with a small filling, scaling, and clean or professional cleaning.
Extraction and subsequent dentist waterloo are obviously invasive and expensive treatments. After root canal treatment, the tooth is weakened by decay. The tooth will need a crown, resulting in a large dental bill.
As you can see, a recession can quickly spiral out of control. You don’t know that your tooth is slowly decaying. Those missed visits mean your dentist has no chance of detecting early decay and preventing it from spreading to nerves or roots. Or cause teeth to crack as you require a complete extraction.
THE SILENT MARCH OF GUM DISEASE
The most serious invisible dental problem is gum disease. It affects many adults and is particularly prominent in the middle-aged population. In fact, studies report that 90% of the population currently suffers from gum infections to some degree.
Most people with the disease will reach this stage of their lives once they have bleeding gums and bad breath, which don’t require a lot of dental visits, and they may feel the urge to brush their teeth. Good enough, and occasional flossing with braces is relatively healthy. Hygiene habits. This means they have never had a toothache or had never had dental problems before. The problem with generally good oral health and with only a few minor symptoms is that going to the dentist seems inconsequential and at the bottom of the to-do list. So just as things start to feel a little sore and creaky in middle age, they’re looking at serious bone and gum disease cases. This is a case of bacteria getting between the gums and teeth and eating away at the jawbone. In many cases, 50% of the bone around the tooth has been damaged without the patient realizing there is a problem.
Aside from red, bleeding gums and symptoms of low-grade plaque infections, such as bad breath, which manifests as gingivitis, the patient cannot know that the jawbone is under attack and rotting.
WHAT IF I IGNORE MY TOOTHACHE?
For many people, life is busier than ever, which is why some people don’t get treatment for toothache. You could work outside the home, go to school, or run a household. With so many responsibilities, it’s easy to avoid going to the dental office for a toothache. Instead of being tempted to put your oral health first, make it one of your top priorities.
IS IGNORING A TOOTHACHE A BIG DEAL?
Even if a person has a mild toothache, it could be the first sign that a more serious problem is developing. Without proper oral care, people can jeopardize all their teeth and gums. What seems like a normal toothache can affect other parts of the body. A toothache is the body’s way of signalling that there is a problem. So, a toothache should always be addressed. When it comes to oral health, it’s best to be cautious.
SPREAD OF DECAY
Cavities damage teeth by creating small holes called cavities. Although tooth decay cannot spread to other teeth, tooth decay can. As a result, additional cavities can affect other teeth. In some cases, an untreated cavity can lead to an infection. This means an individual will experience toothache due to tooth decay and infection. Unfortunately, by ignoring the pain, the infection can spread to the surrounding teeth, gums, or other areas of the body.
GUM DISEASE
This is another reason why ignoring a toothache is never good. Without proper treatment, an individual can develop gum disease. While it takes time to develop, it can lead to devastating results. The longer a person ignores a toothache, the higher their risk of gum disease.
HIDDEN ISSUES
One of the most surprising reasons not to ignore a toothache is that the pain may not come from a tooth. For individuals, it feels like teeth are the place of discomfort. In fact, it could be due to sores and swelling in other areas of the mouth. Usually, this is related to bacteria in the gums, which cause dental disease.
TOOTH EXTRACTION AND CROWNS
Failure to visit the dentist kitchener for dental examination and treatment may result in tooth extraction or crowning. Depending on the patient’s situation, the dentist may recommend extraction of the affected tooth. Another option is to put a permanent crown on it after troubleshooting. An individual can avoid both simply by going to the dentist for a toothache.
PREVENT TOOTHACHE
Protecting teeth from pain is a top priority. This can be done through simple practice. See your dentist for a routine dental checkup that can clean your teeth with professional equipment and products. Dentists can also perform a fluoride treatment to create an extra layer of strong protection. Any holes will be filled before they get bigger and deeper.
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can strengthen the body’s immune system. This will allow the body to fight infections in the teeth and gums. In addition, removing processed foods from the food list can help reduce the amount of sugar bacteria eat. This will reduce the risk of infection and toothache.
Regular flossing and brushing can remove food particles and plaque from teeth. In addition, flossing can clean difficult areas between teeth. A soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste can help clean teeth without damaging the surface. Gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash can remove bacteria, and food debris left behind after brushing or flossing.
Wearing a mouth guard and helmet during outdoor adventures or impact sports can protect teeth from injury. However, the impact of this type of injury can be superficial in the form of small cracks. It can also lead to more serious damage and a pulp infection. In addition, cracks, chips, and broken teeth can cause pain. Dentists can repair damaged teeth with a crown or root canal treatment. Severe cases may require extraction.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR CHECKUPS
These examples can be avoided by visiting the dentist every six months. These semi-annual visits allow your dentist to check the general health of your teeth and gums and monitor for any cavities or infections.
An important part of these visits will be weighing, cleaning and advice on home hygiene – daily brushing, flossing and mouthwash. Every day, bacterial plaque forms and settles on the teeth. This plaque attracts new bacteria, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. If left for a long time, it calcifies and turns into tartar that cannot be removed at home. Descaling and cleaning also include polishing. This smooths the surface of your teeth and helps prevent plaque and bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Your dentist can detect more than just dental problems. Your dentist is a health care professional. Therefore, they can be the first line of defence in detecting other serious health problems such as mouth cancer, snoring and sleep apnea. Early detection and treatment of these two silent conditions can save your life.
So if you’ve postponed that important dental visit, don’t. If you wait until you feel a toothache or until your partner nags too much, you’ll often find it too late. Serious intervention may be the only answer.