Going to the dentist is something that many dread. It does not matter that there are new techniques that make the experience more comfortable, some avoid the dentist at all costs. The problem is that many people are walking around with cavities in their mouth that are not being taken care of. Cavities are caused by bacteria, and the bacteria is the start of a serious infection. The infection can spread throughout the body and cause major issues, such as sepsis. So why are so many ignoring their aching teeth?
Living With The Pain
In 2013, the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of London, did a study to find out exactly how many people are walking around with decayed teeth. What they found was uncanny. There are almost 4 billion people in the world who have cavities that are untreated. These rotten teeth are keeping them up at night and causing them great discomfort when they try to eat. Yet, many still avoid the trip to the dentist. The population’s oral health is in serious trouble.
Cavities are not the only problems found in the study. Those who are not concerned about their oral health often have other issues that plague their mouth. They can have severe tooth loss or severe gum disease to contend with too. The thing that makes most people break down their resistance and head to the dentist is when it hits a front tooth. As long as it is in the back where no one can see, many continue to avoid the problem.
Why So Many Leave Oral Health To Time and Chance
Many avoid the dentist because they do not have dental insurance. Visiting the dentist is not like the doctor, each procedure must be paid for upfront when no insurance is available. Additionally, many are afraid of drills, being put to sleep, or needles in the mouth. In many cases, an individual just keeps putting off the inevitable. When they finally show up at a dentist’s office, they expect miracles. Once a tooth has broken off and the decay has gone into the root, it becomes fractured and cannot be saved. This is when the costs really mount. A typical filling is rather inexpensive compared to a dental implant. If there is more than one missing tooth, bridges or dentures may be considered. Continue reading →
A healthy mouth and positive oral health is good for the body and important for a person’s overall health. This includes taking care of the mouth, gums, and teeth and this is a goal that’s worthy in and of itself. Maintaining good oral health can help to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and even bad breath. It also is key to in order to help keep teeth in older age. Although no one likes to have dental health problems, many are easily treated and preventable with proper oral hygiene habits, a good diet, and regular visits to the dentist. Some of the most common oral problems are:
Bad Breath
Bad breath in the chronic form is known as halitosis. This is caused many times by oral problems such as cavities, gum disease, and bacteria.
Tooth Decay
Next to the common cold, in the United States, tooth decay is the second most prevalent disease. Tooth decay can be caused by plaque buildup, which can be treated and even prevented with good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Continue reading →
When you suffer from unexpected pain and can’t see your regular doctor, your first instinct is likely to visit the emergency room. The Health Policy Institute found that the number of patients visiting the ER for a dental problem increased by 4% between 1997 and 2007. The same organization also found that more than 1% of all ER visits in a single year occurred because of dental pain or dental problems. While you might think that the doctors working in the emergency room can treat your problem and make the pain disappear, there is little that those doctors can actually do.
What Can ER Doctors Do?
If you break your leg in an accident at home, the doctor working in the emergency room will give you something for the pain, set your leg and send you home with some medication. Those doctors have lots of experience with people suffering from various medical conditions, but the doctors on staff do not have experience treating dental conditions. You may receive a prescription painkiller designed to numb some of the pain that you feel, but the hospital may only give you a mild painkiller. If the doctor discovers any inflammation in your mouth, he or she may prescribe an antibiotic and recommend that you see a dentist as soon as possible. Continue reading →
You would be surprised to know that cavities are contagious. Cavities are permanent small holes in a tooth and are a result of tooth decay. There are three types of cavities, which are coronal and root cavities, and recurrent decay. The hole can get bigger if it is not repaired and treated. This can become a serious matter that can not only destroy the tooth, but can also kill delicate nerves. A sticky, slimy film called plaque causes cavities, but it is a combination of factors that causes it. Bacteria in the mouth, frequent snacking, eating carbohydrates and drinking sugary drinks, and not cleaning teeth well, allow the bacteria to produce acids that stick to plaque and then attack tooth enamel. Plaque accumulates on teeth as soon as 20 minutes after eating. Tooth decay can begin quickly and cavities can be contagious. Continue reading →
While many Americans are able to say that their oral health is relatively healthy or, at least, looks relatively healthy, there are many that cannot say the same. There are numerous disadvantages of poor oral care. For example, oral health is taken into account when potential employers are planning to hire even the most minute employee for lower scale positions. This is an overlooked fact by the Americans that do not suffer from this particular physical problem. Of course, unemployment is not the only thing to stress about when your mouth is not properly taken care of. There are many diseases that accompany underprivileged mouths that can not only harm the body, but possibly cause death. In fact, a 12-year-old boy from Maryland died from a tooth infection because his mother could not afford to take him to the dentist. Emergency visits to the ER due to oral health have skyrocketed these past few years. Why is all of this happening? It seems that dental insurance and the high cost of regular dental visits play an extremely large factor. Continue reading →
When there is a serious tooth infection, dentists will either extract the teeth recommend an endodontic treatment, which is otherwise known as a root canal. Root canals are done by endodontists, or dental health professionals who specialize in the procedure.
Is Root Canal A Better Option?
A root canal is done by removing the infected or inflamed pulp from inside the tooth. The endodontist then carefully cleans the area inside of the canal, fills it up, and seals the space. Then, the tooth is restored using a filling or a crown.
A root canal is often recommended because it saves the natural tooth. While having one’s tooth extracted may seem like an easier and quicker option, a root canal has advantages over extraction. It keeps your teeth as is, maintain your natural smile. It also promotes normal sensation and biting and promotes proper chewing. Continue reading →
Some dental procedures are done with local anesthesia, but even without the presence of pain, you may feel anxiety and fear which can complicate the treatment. Today, however, patients can now request to be sedated instead of just getting general anesthesia, in order to keep them calm and relaxed throughout the procedure. If you elect to undergo a sedation dentistry appointment, here are some things you may expect.
Come With A Friend
Before the procedure, your doctor will also ask you to come to the clinic accompanied by a friend or a family member to look after you after the procedure and help you go home.
To help you relax even more, most doctors allow you to bring things, blankets, stuffed toys, music player with headphones as long as they will not interfere with the treatment. Some even allow companions to be in the treatment room if that will help you relax better. Continue reading →
Anyone who has ever experienced a severe toothache will tell you that you do not want to neglect dental care until a tooth decays to the point of intense pain. Many will agree that a toothache is one of the worst types of pain that one can experience. A toothache tends to feel worse at night with dull, throbbing pain that seems to increase when one is lying in bed. While pain pills might relieve a toothache temporarily, the best remedy is to get rid of the decay that is causing the ache by filling the tooth or extracting it. However, if one takes a proactive approach, the ache can be prevented, and the tooth can be saved. If your dentist has told you that you need a filling, but you are not feeling any pain, there are some things you need to know about tooth decay.
Poor oral care leads to tooth decay. Neglecting brushing and flossing results in a tooth becoming exposed to acid producing bacteria. Tooth decay occurs as the acid and bacteria eat into the tooth. Initially these destructive bacteria can go unnoticed, so in the early stages of tooth decay; it is not unusual to experience no pain at all. However, as the decay persists a hole will appear in the affected tooth, allowing the nerves to be exposed. Exposed nerves bring pain. When the decay goes unchecked it can reach the point where the only relief is to extract the tooth. Continue reading →
