The ability to enjoy a hot or cold cup of coffee, fresh breath, and a brilliant smile are some of the factors that indicate excellent oral health. Achieving these goals is simple, brushing, flossing, proper eating habits, and going for bi-yearly dental checkups can be sufficient. Unfortunately, some people fail to follow regular tooth cleaning habits and end up facing oral health issues.
Controlling the formation of cavities
It is common knowledge that food and beverages with high sugar content can cause maximum damage to oral health. The sugary food particles interact with harmful bacteria in the mouth and form acids that damage the tooth enamel within a short period.
Brushing, as well as flossing, can help remove the acid-causing harmful bacteria and food particles. If left unattended, these acids have the potential to turn small holes into large cavities. Even two months can be sufficient to turn that tiny black spot into a large cavity.
It may not be possible to avoid such sugary foods altogether. Thus, dentists recommend people to rinse their mouth with water after consuming sugary drinks and food items. Water can easily remove the sticky, sweet content accumulated on the tooth surface. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is equally crucial as fluoride combined with saliva can counter the impact of sugar on the enamel.
Treat cavities as soon as possible. Your dentist will examine the decay and recommend the best suitable materials for filling the same. The professional may also suggest that the patient get tooth x-rays for checking the extent of the damage caused by the decay.
Discoloration of teeth
Millions of people around the world prefer to start their day with tea or a latte. Both can offer a feeling of freshness, but can act as troublemakers for oral health. The tannins present in both beverages cause stains on the tooth surface, resulting in discoloration.
The usual brush and floss routine may not be adequate for controlling this discoloration. The patient needs to use a natural or clinical way to whiten the teeth and retain that great smile.
Patients should consider swirling pure coconut oil around the teeth for 15 to 20 minutes at least once a week. Oil pulling prevents bleeding from gums. It helps in controlling bad breath as well as whitens the teeth. Using the mixture of baking soda, toothpaste combined with water, sodium bicarbonate for brushing can also be a good option. But, these and other natural remedies won’t be of much use in case of staining and plaque build-up. The only option for such patients is to visit the dental clinic and go for professional cleaning once every six months.
Dental cleaning helps bring back the lost smile in most cases. If required, your dentist would also recommend teeth whitening treatment along with the cleanup. If you are searching for teeth whitening dentistry in Roswell, GA, TruCare can be the best choice.
Gingivitis and gum disease
No doubt, white teeth remain the stars of the show. However, gums below them need care and attention too.
Gums are often ignored because gingivitis does not show symptoms until the condition reaches an advanced stage. The patient experiences pain or bleeding only when too much damage is already done.
Formation of pockets between gums and teeth, tender/swollen gums and bad breath are common signs of gum-related issues. Red and puffy gums also indicate gingivitis. Such patients can even notice bleeding gums after brushing and flossing. Rather than approaching the dentist, most patients start avoiding effective cleaning. In such cases, untreated gingivitis turns into periodontal or gum disease, resulting in loss of teeth and surrounding bone. Early intervention can help in controlling the damage.
Regular checkups can help in early detection. Your dentist can recommend the treatment option depending on symptoms and the stage that the disease has reached. Fortunately, controlling plaque formation through regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental cleaning can help keep gum disease away.
Tooth sensitivity and erosion
As the name suggests, tooth erosion involves loss of tooth structure or cracks on the enamel. Such individuals also experience pain after eating sweets, drinking cold or hot drinks. Patients can feel discomfort while brushing and flossing as well. The sensitivity can be a sign of infection developed in the tooth. Surprisingly, even drinking too much soda or acidic drinks can cause the same. Your dentist would examine the affected tooth and treat the source of sensitivity.
Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Halitosis, also often referred to as bad breath, can be caused by cavities, gum disease, saliva in the mouth, or bacteria accumulating on the tongue and between the teeth. Other possible reasons are sinus infections, dry mouth, oral cancer, or an allergic reaction to a medication.
Mouthwash or chewing gum can mask the odor rather than curing the reason. If the bad breath is due to dental reasons, regular brushing, flossing, rinsing with saltwater, and using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue can help. If these steps do not help, it is advisable to approach your dentist for a checkup immediately.
If you wish to visit a reputed General Dentistry in Roswell (GA), you should call and fix an appointment at TruCare Dentistry.