Common Dental Problems Adults Are Likely To Experience

In comparison to our whole body, it’s amazing how much importance we place on our mouth – specifically our teeth and gums. We do this for good reason though because oral hygiene is something that needs to be performed on a daily basis. When we do not follow up with routine oral hygiene, then problems quickly arise.

Common Dental Problems Adults Face

Gum Disease

Believe it or not, when we brush our teeth we do it more so for our gums than our teeth. If our gums are bad, then are teeth will inevitably become bad (in absolute worst case scenarios our teeth would just fall out).

How many times have you been to the dentist and heard a bunch of numbers being thrown out at rapid speed? These numbers refer to your gums and the amount of pocket space between them. The higher the number, the worse off your gums are – typically resulting in special treatments such as gum irrigation, deep cleaning, antibiotic shots (i.e. Arestin), and more frequent trips to your dentist in an effort to correct the mistakes.

Remember: early stages of gum disease CAN be reversed, but later stages cannot.

Bad Breath

We’re not referring to bad breath from consuming too many onions or garlic – we’re talking about bad breath that is a result of your teeth. Bad breath can be tricky to pinpoint, but is often the result of a lack of brushing and flossing that leads to decay in your mouth.

You can mask the smell using mouthwash, chewing gum, or other solutions – but if the problem is consistent then warn your dentist about it the next time you’re in.

TMJ

At some point or another, you may begin experiencing jaw pain or a clicking sensation in your jaws. This is known as TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, and can also be difficult to pinpoint the cause. Teeth grinding is often the reason why many experience TMJ. The worst part is that sometimes we grind our teeth at night without even realizing it.

Your first instinct may be to let your general doctor or primary care physician handle the situation, but it’s actually better to let a dentist take care of this one.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay – the main problem that many of us struggle with even as children. Unfortunately, it can only become worse with age. Just keep these three things in mind in order to gain control over a war that you will face forever: stay hydrated, brush and floss your teeth, and visit your dentist.

What does hydration have to do with tooth decay? Good question. Our main defense against tooth decay is actually the naturally occurring saliva in our mouths. This fights off the swarm of bacteria living in our mouths. When we’re hydrated, our body is producing saliva at an appropriate rate.