Common Dental Problems
Plaque & Tooth Decay
Dental plaque is a sticky, invisible film of
bacteria, saliva, and food particles which forms on
our teeth. If dental plaque is not removed daily, it
will harden to form dental calculus or tartar.
Dental calculus can not be removed by brushing. It
can only be removed by a procedure done by the
dentist called scaling. This cleans the teeth below
and above the gumline, removing dental calculus from
the affected areas. Plaque can cause tooth decay and
gum disease.
To prevent tooth decay, follow these suggestions:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with
fluoridated toothpaste. Children should avoid
using adult toothpaste.
- Floss your teeth frequently.
- Limit your intake of sweet foods and drinks
between meals.
- Visit the dentist at least once a year.
If you do have tooth decay, there are a number of
ways to treat it, including:
- Fillings - Silver amalgam fillings are
commonly used for the back teeth, while
tooth-colored materials are used for the front.
- Crowns - These are used when there is
extensive loss of tooth structure due to tooth
decay, and fillings are unable to restore the
teeth. Crowns can be made of porcelain, metal,
or a combination of the both.
- Root Canal Treatment - If the tooth decay is
not detected and treated early, it may progress
to the deepest part of the tooth - the pulp.
When this happens, the tooth may die. Root canal
treatment is an alternative to extraction for
treating dead teeth.
- Dentures, Bridges, and Implants - These are
used when teeth are so badly decayed that they
have to be extracted. The missing teeth can be
replaced with a denture, bridge, or an implant.
Dentures, which are made of plastic or metal,
can replace the missing teeth and can be removed
from the mouth. Bridges are similar to dentures
except that they are permanently cemented to the
adjacent teeth. Implants involves placing
titanium screws into the gums. These screws act
as the roots for artificial teeth to be placed
on them.
Gum Disease
The early stages of gum disease is gingivitis, which
occurs when dental plaque builds up over the teeth.
The bacteria in dental plaque produce poisonous
substances, which cause the gums to swell. The signs
of gingivitis include red and swollen gums, bleeding
gums, and bad breadth.
The good news about gingivitis is that it is
preventable and reversible with proper dental care
and regular cleaning by a dentist. On the other
hand, if oral hygiene habits are poor, gingivitis
may progress to periodontitis.
