Hairston Family Dentistry Treats Many Common Dental Issues
There are many dental issues that Hairston Family Dentistry treats, but today, we’re identifying the most common dental problems. Patients can suffer from tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, mouth sores, and even bad breath. Dental problems can be painful, embarrassing, and even dangerous. But there is good news. You can easily prevent most of the most common dental problems.
Here are Seven of the Most Common Dental Problems
When you brush twice a day, floss daily, eat properly, and have regular dental check-ups, you are taking steps to prevent dental problems. Our dentistry team can see what’s inside your mouth to identify your underlying health conditions. Some of those dental problems include:
- Tooth Decay
- Gum Disease
- Bad Breath
- Oral Cancer
- Mouth Sores
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Tooth Erosion
Many People Suffer from Tooth Decay
Tooth decay might be as common as the common cold. When you don’t take care of your teeth at home, plaque begins to build up in your mouth. The bacteria in plaque cause tooth decay. The plaque and bacteria eat away at your enamel. The result is the patient getting a painful cavity. You notice the pain once the cavity becomes deep enough to approach the nerve of the tooth. If a cavity forms and we diagnose it at an early stage, we can do a single filling. Our dentist, Dr. Leah Hairston, will remove the diseased tooth structure and fill it with a white tooth bonding material.
Get Treated if You Have Gingivitis or Periodontal Disease
Most people don’t think of their gums until they have gum disease. The most common types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gum disease happens when bacteria invade the soft tissue of the gums, causing infections to set in. The damage can quickly spread in the gums and damage the roots of the teeth. The medical community has also linked periodontal disease to heart attacks and strokes. If our dentist diagnoses you with gum disease, we help preserve your dental health. We can have a cleaning and treatment regimen that will help you battle gum disease.
Bad Breath is a Sign of an Underlying Dental Issue
If you have bad breath, it can be embarrassing, but it can also be a sign that you have a dental problem. You might not think of bad breath as a dental problem, but it is in many cases. In most cases, mouth bacteria cause bad breath, and it is a sign of early-stage periodontal disease. Bad breath can also be a sign of other problems, such as infections and illness. You might have tried to get rid of bad breath with mouth rinse, but you might need more than that. Dr. Hairston can check your teeth and gums to find out what’s causing the bad breath.
Oral Cancer is Caused Most Often by Tobacco Products
If you think you might have oral cancer, get it checked right away. Oral cancer is a very serious disease that many people don’t take seriously. Tobacco products and people failing to properly maintain their dental health often cause oral cancer. While you might not hear of oral cancer, it is very common, according to The Oral Cancer Foundation:
“While some think this is a rare cancer, mouth cancers will be newly diagnosed in about 145 new individuals each day in the U.S. alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. If you add the head and neck subcategory of laryngeal throat cancers, the rates of occurrence (about 12,000 additional new cases per year) and death are significantly higher. When found at early stages of development, oral cancers can have an 80 to 90% survival rate.”
Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation
Don’t Let Mouth Sores Continue to be a Problem
Mouth sores are a very common dental problem. Most people have had cold sores, canker sores, or have areas in their cheek, lips, or tongue that are sore. Mouth sores are usually temporary, especially if you have bitten your lip or tongue. You probably have bought ointments to treat cold sores and canker sores. But if the mouth sore continues to be a problem over weeks and months, you should visit Hairston Family Dentistry. Our dentist will make sure it’s not something more serious, like oral cancer.
Tooth Sensitivity Leads to Pain or Discomfort
If you have ever had tooth sensitivity, you know that it is painful. It’s a common dental problem that affects many people. When you have tooth sensitivity, you experience tooth pain or discomfort from sweets, hot drinks, cold drinks, or ice cream. Some patients with sensitive teeth even have pain while they brush or floss their teeth. Sensitive teeth could be from a cracked tooth or a tooth abscess. Dr. Hairston can treat your tooth sensitivity with excellent success.
You Can Prevent Tooth Erosion
When you suffer tooth erosion, you have lost your tooth structure. Acid invades the enamel to cause the erosion of teeth. Symptoms of tooth erosion can include teeth cracking and tooth sensitivity. The teeth can also be discolored, rounded, or even look transparent. You can prevent tooth erosion. Make an appointment with Hairston’s Family Dentistry to get a comprehensive examination.
Give Hairston Family Dentistry a call at (304) 273-5301, or follow us on Facebook. Talk to our team today to find out more about identifying common dental problems.