You brush and floss your teeth every day, you visit your dentist every six months and still get tooth decay, yellowing, and throbbing pain. Although some of our dental problems are genetic in nature, we don’t always take the right measures to treat them. This can cause serious problems such as an increased risk of premature childbirth or heart disease. But now it’s easy to solve all your dental problems. Here are the best ways to keep your smile perfect.
1. Crooked teeth
Problem. Our front teeth sometimes become shifted when we get older. Many causes, such as grinding or gum disease can speed up this process. Crooked teeth are considered mostly a cosmetic problem but some may feel discomfort while eating, jaw pain because of a misaligned bite, or even get gingivitis due to the difficulty of cleaning shifted teeth.
Solution. If you have an uneven bite, there are two ways out. You can accept your imperfection and live with it or you can try different methods to make your teeth straight. The most common options are:
- Dental veneers. Veneers are thin layers of porcelain which the dentist puts on your teeth. You can use them to hide several shifted teeth.
- Invisalign. It is a transparent plastic mold that you have to wear for almost 22 hours a day. Invisalign is usually used to fix moderate teeth curvature.
- Braces. They are still a popular option to straighten crooked teeth. Now the number of adults wearing braces is increasing. They are becoming smaller and more comfortable.
2. Tooth decay
Problem. Caries are actually small holes in the tooth enamel. Children are more prone to cavities as they prefer sweets and soda water. Sugar in those drinks and foods has a negative effect on our teeth because it creates plaque and acids that destroy the tooth enamel. Tooth decay sometimes grows on the edges of old tooth fillings. There is no data that you can be genetically predisposed to cavities but you can be genetically predisposed to the bacterial plaque that leads to them.
Solution. If your tooth decay is so little that your doctor can see it only through an X-ray, a prescription for fluoride or its several applications in the dental office can help. The fluoride helps to restore the enamel back.
But if the cavity is large, you will need to get a tooth filling. They can be either composite or plastic, but both of them will perfectly match the color of your teeth. Those fillings are quite smaller them amalgam or metal ones, so your dentist will remove a smaller part of your tooth. But if you got a huge cavity, the dentist may offer to install a dental crown.
3. Gum disease
Problem. Accumulation of plaque can irritate the gums, which leads to swelling and bleeding. This condition is called gingivitis. Without proper treatment, this disease can progress into a much more serious condition like periodontitis. It is caused by bacteria that are living below the gum line. Those bacteria can destroy tissues and create pockets between the teeth and gums. Periodontitis should be carefully treated, as it can even cause diabetes, heart diseases, and perhaps rheumatoid arthritis
If you noticed that your gums are aching and bleeding as you floss or brush your teeth, this may indicate periodontitis. There also can be an irritation and the teeth can look longer because of receding gums.
Solution. You can prevent the disease by performing teeth cleaning more frequently and removing all plaque. Don’t neglect to floss between your teeth. This simple action helps to reduce bleeding in gums. If the disease scale increases, you may need to perform a gingivectomy or periodontitis treatment.
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