Taking care of our mouth and teeth is something we should be doing daily. Failing to do so not only is detrimental to our teeth, but also to other aspects of our lives! Problems such as bad breath, tooth discoloration, gum disease and tooth decay are only some of the examples.
For this, our Los Algodones dentists recommend brushing and flossing as a daily ritual. This way most of the problems will not pose an issue to our teeth.
Common Oral Health Problems
Bad Breath
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is one of the most common issues people face. It can be described as the mouth having a foul odor to it. The reason why bad breath happens is due bacteria, which produce sulfur compounds when breaking down foods.
More than a problem, it leans more into a social one, as a foul breath can drive away people and give bad first impressions.
Typically, you want to be on the lookout for:
- Dental problems. Most of the times, bad breath stems from tooth decay or gum disease.
- Food remnants. Whenever we eat and drink, some of it gets stuck in our teeth. It is important to brush every place and even scrub the tongue to help with bad breath.
- Dry mouth. The lack of saliva in the mouth makes it even easier for bacteria to plague the mouth.
- The smoke and the use of tobacco products leave a unpleasant smell in the mouth that can last for days.
- Poor dental hygiene. We brush and floss our teeth in order to get rid of all the plaque and bacteria that can harm our teeth. Failing to do so gives way to dental issues.
Tooth discoloration
Then we have tooth discoloration and stains. It is a cosmetic problem and can hinder people’s willingness to smile, talk, or even laugh in public.
If you have pondered about getting your teeth whitened by a dentist, then you must know that there are three different types of stain:
- Extrinsic tooth stains. These are the ones on the surface of your tooth enamel. Typically happen through food and smoking. For extrinsic stains, non-bleaching whitening products work just fine at seeing them off.
- Intrinsic tooth stains. These ones are in the inside of the tooth. Sometimes pigments and components can penetrate into the dentin, making its color more prominent. Whitening products with bleach target these stains.
- Age-related stains. When we grow older, our tooth enamel thins and our dentin gets more yellow. As such, it is common for our teeth to start looking more yellow.
Gum disease
Either it is gingivitis or periodontitis, they are both stages of gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, it is an infection that targets the periodontal tissue and ligament, and alveolar bone. This disease wears down that tissue and can destroy the bone supporting our teeth.
For this, Los Algodones dentists suggest tilting your toothbrush 45° against the gumline, as to target the buildup plaque that might be hidden.
Tooth decay
When our teeth lose minerals faster than they can regain them, they are prone to tooth decay and cavities. This loss of minerals is due plaque produced by bacteria. The best way to stop it is to have good oral habits such as brushing and flossing, as to remove all the plaque and bacteria buildup. Moreover, reducing the intake of sugary and starchy foods help greatly, as these fuel the plaque production.
Dry mouth
Also addressed as xerostomia. Dry mouth is when our mouth does not produce sufficient saliva, which is necessary not only for speaking and eating, but to keep our teeth protected as well.
Saliva is unique in its own way in that it halts bad bacteria and helps the remineralization of our teeth. As such, drinking water and staying hydrated is crucial for a good oral health. As we grow older, it is quite common to develop dry mouth.