10 of the Most Common Oral Hygiene Problems

That commonly-dispensed advice to thoroughly brush your teeth twice daily is vital for maintaining your oral hygiene. Slacking in this area can lead to a range of health problems, many of which directly affecting the teeth. Here are some especially common such issues.

Bad breath

Should layers of bacteria become embedded on your tongue, stinky Volatile Sulfur Compounds can result. That’s what gives you bad breath, or what is otherwise known as halitosis. Particular foods, like garlic and onions, can especially encourage the onset of this.

Herpes

A type of mouth sore, herpes can come about through, to cite just two examples, kissing or sharing drinking glasses. It’s virus-based and contagious – so, it’d obviously be a good idea to be careful around anyone who has it, and also inform family and friends if you get it.

Canker sores

Another variety of mouth sore, canker sores are small but often recurring. They tend to last for one or two weeks, but you can reduce the duration with the use of anti-microbial mouthwashes. As a dentist, you could recommend these to patients with these sores.

Cavities

Left alone in the mouth, bacteria can eat sugar and starch remnants there before secreting an acid waste product that wears away the tooth enamel. The bacteria can then move into the left-behind spaces in the teeth and be tricky to reach when you’re brushing or flossing.

Gingivitis

Poor oral hygiene can often be to blame for gum disease. Gingivitis is the milder form of gum disease, and can be especially common in teenagers – though don’t be surprised if you don’t personally experience symptoms of it until your thirties or forties.

Periodontitis

The more severe kind of gum disease, periodontitis can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. This is because bacteria can be inhaled or, through the gums, enter the blood – meaning that the heart and lungs can eventually be affected.

Wisdom teeth

While wisdom teeth aren’t problematic for everyone, for some people, they can be too big. Therefore, they can only partially “erupt” – and bacteria can enter the surrounding soft tissue and reach deeply into the gums, often leading to an infection in the jaw bone.

Toothaches

These can be triggered by pretty much any other condition mentioned here. The best bet for avoiding toothaches, however, is simply keeping oral hygiene in check – and equipment from our stock here at BF Mulholland Ltd can help you, as a dental professional, to assess patients in this area.

Tooth erosion

Acid can attack the tooth’s enamel and lead to the loss of tooth structure. This is known, quite simply, as tooth erosion – but can be more easily kept at bay with high levels of oral hygiene and healthy living, plus regular dental appointments.

The unattractive smile

Dental problems affecting the appearance of teeth can, of course, result in what has been dubbed “the unattractive smile”. It’s obviously unsightly, but also easy to avoid provided that – yes – good oral hygiene is adhered to. Remember to impart this to your patients.