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Common oral and dental diseases

Oral health is an important part of your overall health and well-being. Improper oral hygiene can lead to cavities and common oral and dental diseases, or even gums, and is also linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is a lifelong commitment. So the sooner you learn good oral hygiene habits — like brushing, flossing, and limiting sugar — the easier it will be to avoid costly dental procedures and long-term health problems.

Facts about dental and oral health

Dental cavities and gum diseases are very common. According to the World Health Organization:

  1. Between 60 and 90 percent of schoolchildren have at least one cavity
  2. Almost 100% of adults have at least one cavity
  3. Between 15 and 20 percent of adults aged 35 to 44 have severe gum disease
  4. About 30% of people aged 65 to 74 worldwide have no natural teeth
  5. In most countries, there are between 1 and 10 cases of oral cancer in every 100,000 people.
  6. The burden of oral diseases is much higher in poor or deprived population groups.

There are many measures you can take to maintain the health of your teeth or to treat a damaged tooth. For example, dental and oral diseases can be greatly reduced by doing the following:

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss at least once a day
  • Reduce sugar consumption
  • Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
  • Avoid tobacco products
  • Drinking fluoridated water
  • Seek professional dental care

Symptoms of dental and oral problems

You should not skip seeing your dentist until symptoms reappear. It is usually recommended to visit the dentist twice a year so that they can find the problem before you even notice any symptoms.

If you experience any of the following warning signs, you should see your dentist as soon as possible:

  • Sores, sores, or tender areas in the mouth that do not heal after a week or two
  • Bleeding or swollen gums after brushing or flossing
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Sudden sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures or drinks
  • toothache
  • Loose teeth
  • Receding gums
  • Pain when chewing or biting
  • Swelling of the face and cheeks
  • Cracked or broken teeth
  • Frequent dry mouth

If any of these symptoms are accompanied by a high fever and swelling of the face or neck, you should seek immediate medical treatment. Learn more about the warning signs of oral problems.

Causes of dental and oral diseases

Your oral cavity is a good place to collect all kinds of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Some of them belong there and make up the natural flora of your mouth. Usually, these bacteria are harmless in small amounts. However, a diet high in sugar creates conditions in which acid-producing bacteria can thrive. This acid dissolves tooth enamel and causes cavities.

Bacteria near your gum line grow in a sticky matrix called plaque. If plaque isn’t removed regularly by brushing and flossing, it builds up along your teeth, hardens, and moves downward. This can inflame your gums and cause a condition called gingivitis.

Increased inflammation causes the gums to separate from your teeth. This process creates pouches that can eventually collect pus. This more advanced stage of gum disease is called periodontitis.

Many factors contribute to gingivitis and periodontitis, including:

  • smoking
  • Poor brushing habits
  • Frequent consumption of sweet foods and drinks
  • diabetes
  • The use of drugs that reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth
  • Family history or genetics
  • Certain infections such as HIV or AIDS
  • Hormonal changes in women
  • Acid reflux or heartburn
  • Frequent vomiting due to acid
  • Diagnosis of dental and oral diseases

Most dental and oral problems can be diagnosed during a dental examination. During the examination, the dentist will closely examine you:

  • the teeth
  • the mouth
  • throat
  • language
  • species
  • jaw
  • neck

Ways to diagnose oral and dental disease

Your dentist may tap or scrape your teeth with various tools or instruments to help make the diagnosis. A technician at the dental office will take dental x-rays of your mouth and make sure to get a picture of each of your teeth. In case of pregnancy, be sure to inform your dentist. Pregnant women should not take X-rays.

An instrument called a probe can be used to measure your gum pocket. This little ruler can tell your dentist if you have gum disease. In a healthy mouth, the depth of interdental pockets is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters (mm). Any measurement above that may mean gum disease.

If your dentist finds any lumps, lesions, or abnormal growths in your mouth, he may perform a gum biopsy. During a biopsy, a small piece of tissue is removed from the growth or lesion. The sample is then sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

If oral cancer is suspected, your dentist in Toronto may also order imaging tests to check for the spread of the cancer. Tests may include:

  • x-ray
  • MRI scan
  • CT scan
  • Endoscopy

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