Oral health -
Some of them belong there, making up the normal flora of your mouth. But a diet high in sugar creates conditions in which acid-producing bacteria can flourish. This acid dissolves tooth enamel and causes dental cavities.
Bacteria near your gumline thrive in a sticky matrix called plaque. This can inflame your gums and cause the condition known as gingivitis. Increased inflammation causes your gums to begin to pull away from your teeth.
This process creates pockets in which pus may eventually collect. This more advanced stage of gum disease is called periodontitis. Most dental and oral problems can be diagnosed during a dental exam.
During an exam, your dentist will closely inspect your:. Your dentist might tap or scrape at your teeth with various tools or instruments to assist with a diagnosis. A tool called a probe can be used to measure your gum pockets. This small ruler can tell your dentist whether or not you have gum disease or receding gums.
In a healthy mouth, the depth of the pockets between the teeth are usually between 1 and 3 millimeters mm. Any measurement higher than that may mean you have gum disease.
If your dentist finds any abnormal lumps , lesions, or growths in your mouth, they may perform a gum biopsy. During a biopsy , a small piece of tissue is removed from the growth or lesion.
The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope to check for cancerous cells. If oral cancer is suspected, your dentist may also order imaging tests to see if the cancer has spread. Tests may include:. Most dental and oral problems can be prevented with proper oral hygiene.
Cavities are also called caries or tooth decay. These are areas of the tooth that have been permanently damaged and may even have holes in them. Cavities are fairly common. They occur when bacteria, food, and acid coat your teeth and form a plaque.
The acid on your teeth starts to eat away at the enamel and then the underlying dentin, or connective tissue. Over time, this can lead to permanent damage. Gum disease , also called gingivitis, is inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis can make your gums swell and bleed when you brush or floss. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a more serious infection.
As periodontitis progresses, the infection can spread to your jaw and bones. It can also cause an inflammatory response throughout the body. A tooth can crack or break from an injury to the mouth, chewing hard foods, or grinding the teeth at night. A cracked tooth can be very painful. If your teeth are sensitive , you might feel pain or discomfort after having cold or hot foods or beverages.
It can also be the result of:. Most of the time, naturally sensitive teeth can be treated with a change in your daily oral hygiene regimen. There are specific brands of toothpaste and mouthwash for people with sensitive teeth.
Shop for toothpaste and mouthwash made for people with sensitive teeth. Oral cancers include cancer of the:. A dentist is usually the first person to recognize oral cancer. Tobacco use, such as smoking and chewing tobacco, is the biggest risk factor for oral cancer.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation OCF , nearly 50, Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. In general, the earlier that oral cancer is diagnosed, the better the outlook. Oral health has risen in importance in recent years, as researchers have discovered a connection between declining oral health and underlying systemic conditions.
It turns out that a healthy mouth can help you maintain a healthy body. According to the Mayo Clinic, oral bacteria and inflammation may be associated with:. Bacteria can spread from your oral cavity to your bloodstream, causing infective endocarditis.
Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening infection of your heart valves. Your dentist may suggest you take antibiotics as a preventive measure before they perform any dental procedure that could dislodge bacteria in your mouth.
Your dentist will recommend other treatments if you show signs of gum disease, infections, or other problems. A professional cleaning can get rid of any plaque you may have missed while brushing and flossing.
These cleanings are usually performed by a dental hygienist. After all the tartar is removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a high-powered toothbrush to brush your teeth. This is followed by flossing and rinsing to wash out any debris. A deep cleaning is also known as scaling and root planning.
Following a dental cleaning, your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment to help fight off cavities. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral.
It can help strengthen the enamel of your tooth and make them more resilient to bacteria and acid. If you show signs of a gum infection or you have a tooth abscess that has spread to other teeth or your jaw, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to help get rid of the infection.
The antibiotic may be in the form of a mouth rinse, gel, oral tablet, or capsule. Topical antibiotic gel may also be applied to the teeth or gums during surgical procedures.
A filling is used to repair a cavity, crack, or hole in the tooth. The dentist will first use a drill to remove the damaged area of the tooth and then fill the hole with some material, such as amalgam or composite. A crown is used if a large portion of your tooth needs to be removed or has broken off due to an injury.
There are two types of crowns: an implant crown that fits over an implant, and a regular crown that fits over a natural tooth. Both types of crowns fill in the gap where your natural tooth appeared.
Dental sealants are thin, protective coatings that are placed on the back teeth, or molars , to help prevent cavities. Your dentist may recommend a sealant for your children as soon as they get their first molars, at around age six, and again when they get their second set of molars around age Sealants are easy to apply and completely painless.
You might need a root canal if tooth decay reaches all the way inside the tooth to the nerve. During a root canal, the nerve is removed and replaced with a filling made of a biocompatible material, usually a combination of a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and adhesive cement.
Probiotics are mostly known for their role in digestive health , but new research has shown that the healthy bacteria may be beneficial for your teeth and gums.
Probiotics have been shown to prevent plaque and treat bad breath. They also help to prevent oral cancers and decrease inflammation from gum disease. While large clinical trials are still needed to prove their effectiveness, results to date have been promising. You can take a probiotic supplement or eat foods high in beneficial bacteria , such as yogurt , kefir , and kimchi.
Other popular probiotic foods include sauerkraut , tempeh , and miso. Keeping your mouth healthy is a daily commitment. A dental hygienist can teach you how to properly take care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis. In addition to brushing and flossing, your daily routine can include mouthwash, oral rinses, and possibly other tools, such as a Waterpik water flosser.
Shop for a water flosser. Oral surgeries are usually performed to treat more serious cases of periodontal disease. Certain dental surgeries can also be done to replace or fix missing or broken teeth caused by an accident.
During a flap surgery, a surgeon makes a small cut in the gum to lift up a section of the tissue. They then remove tartar and bacteria from underneath the gums. The flap is then stitched back into place around your teeth. Bone grafting is needed when gum disease causes damage to the bone surrounding the root of your tooth.
The dentist replaces the damaged bone with a graft, which can be made from your own bone, a synthetic bone, or a donated bone. A soft tissue graft is used to treat receding gums. A dentist will remove a small piece of tissue from your mouth or use a donor tissue and attach it to the areas of your gums that are missing.
You may also need a tooth extraction if your wisdom teeth , or third molars, are impacted. One or more of the wisdom teeth will become trapped or impacted when it tries to emerge. A dentist will typically recommend that wisdom teeth be extracted if they cause pain, inflammation, or other problems.
Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth that are lost due to a disease or an accident. An implant is surgically placed into the jawbone. After the implant is placed, your bones will grow around it.
This is called osseointegration. Once this process is complete, your dentist will customize a new artificial tooth for you that matches your other teeth. This artificial tooth is known as a crown. The new crown is then attached to the implant.
A dental bridge is made of two abutment crowns on either side of the gap, which then hold the artificial teeth in between in place.
Periodontal disease can eventually break down the bone that supports your teeth. This can lead to many complications. If left untreated, an infection from a tooth abscess can spread to other parts of your head or neck.
It can even lead to sepsis , a life-threatening blood infection. Good oral health boils down to good general health and common sense. The best ways to prevent oral health problems are to:. Get more tips on preventing oral health problems.
Minus Related Pages. Cavities Tooth Decay Cavities are caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria located in plaque that collects on teeth, especially along the gumline and in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby primary teeth. Oral Cancer In , there were nearly 45, new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx diagnosed in the United States and more than 10, deaths.
gov References U. Department of Health and Human Services, Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health. Rockville, MD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, — to — Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; Community Preventive Services Task Force.
The Guide to Community Preventive Services. Preventing dental caries: community water fluoridation abbreviated. Preventing dental caries: school-based dental sealant delivery programs: Task Force findings and rationale statement abbreviated.
Eke PI, Thornton-Evans GO, Wei L, Borgnakke WS, Dye BA, Genco RJ. Periodontitis in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey J Am Dent Assoc. United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations.
HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer. Last Reviewed: September 20, Source: Division of Oral Health , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. home Oral Health home. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
The Oral health Ulcer healing strategies our mouth, healrh Oral health health, is more important than many of Oral health may realize. Nealth is a heapth indicator of overall health, Oral health Ogal essential to our well-being and heslth of life. Although preventable to a great extent, untreated tooth decay or cavities is the most common health condition worldwide. When we think about the potential consequences of untreated oral diseases including pain, reduced quality of life, lost school days, disruption to family life, and decreased work productivity, making sure our mouths stay healthy is incredibly important. The mouth, also called the oral cavity, starts at the lips and ends at the throat. Oraal Oral health removing wastage—wasted time, wasted effort, and Oral health resources. Orral … more. Metabolism boosting foods for vegetarians field of implant dentistry Oral health seen rapid innovation since Per-Ingvar Brånemark1 placed the first screw-retained dental implant in Yet, the approach to osteotomy creation has remained largely unchanged. We use cookies to make your website experience better. Busy Office Looking For a PT Associate Kitchener, ON.
Oral health -
Not only can this lead to bad mouth odor, but it can lead to other oral health problems. Gently brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
When it comes to toothpaste, there are more important elements to look for than whitening power and flavors. No matter which version you choose, make sure it contains fluoride.
While fluoride has come under scrutiny by those worried about how it impacts other areas of health, this substance remains a mainstay in oral health. This is because fluoride is a leading defense against tooth decay. It works by fighting germs that can lead to decay, as well as providing a protective barrier for your teeth.
Purchase fluoride toothpaste here. Many who brush regularly neglect to floss. Flossing is not just for getting little pieces of food or broccoli that may be getting stuck in between your teeth, as Jonathan Schwartz, DDS. points out.
Flossing can be difficult, especially for young children and older adults with arthritis. Rather than give up, look for tools that can help you floss your teeth. Ready-to-use dental flossers from the drugstore can make a difference.
Schwartz says mouthwash helps in three ways: It reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, cleans hard-to-brush areas in and around the gums, and re-mineralizes the teeth. Ask your dentist for specific mouthwash recommendations.
Certain brands are best for children, and those with sensitive teeth. Prescription mouthwash is also available. Purchase mouthwash online. Water continues to be the best beverage for your overall health — including oral health.
Also, as a rule of thumb, Schwartz recommends drinking water after every meal. This can help wash out some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages in between brushes. Ready-to-eat foods are convenient, but perhaps not so much when it comes to your teeth.
Ultimately, sugar converts into acid in the mouth, which can then erode the enamel of your teeth. These acids are what lead to cavities. Acidic fruits, teas, and coffee can also wear down tooth enamel.
Your own everyday habits are crucial to your overall oral health. Still, even the most dutiful brushers and flossers need to see a dentist regularly. At minimum, you should see your dentist for cleanings and checkups twice a year. Not only can a dentist remove calculus and look for cavities , but they will also be able to spot potential issues and offer treatment solutions.
Some dental insurance companies even cover more frequent dental checkups. If this is the case for you, take advantage of it. Doing so is especially helpful if you have a history of dental issues, such as gingivitis or frequent cavities. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
There are many daily ways you can protect your teeth. Healthy gums are key to maintaining a healthy mouth. But what are the best ways to keep your gums healthy, besides brushing and flossing? As you age, you lose the minerals in your teeth. Going to the dentist may be a relatively modern phenomenon, but did you know that people have been using toothpaste since about B.
The foods and drinks that pass by your lips can have a dramatic impact on your health, starting from the first moment they enter your mouth. We all have plaque on our teeth. It's a group of bacteria that lives in your mouth and forms between brushings. The best way to keep plaque in check….
Do receding gums really grow back? Receding gums are common. Along with good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing, there are a number of natural remedies for receding gums…. Are your gums inflamed? You may be dealing with the bacterial infection gingivitis. Here are 10 home remedies you can use to clear up your symptoms.
About 4 in 10 adults aged 30 years or older had gum periodontal diseases in — Tobacco use is also an important risk factor for gum disease. If early forms of periodontal diseases are not treated, the bone that supports the teeth can be lost, and the gums can become infected.
Teeth with little bone support can become loose and may eventually have to be extracted. In , there were nearly 45, new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx diagnosed in the United States and more than 10, deaths.
The 5-year survival rate for these cancers is about 61 percent. The mortality rate from oral cancer is nearly three times as high in males as it is in females 4 vs 1.
Early detection is key to increasing the survival rate for these cancers. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Oral Health Conditions. Minus Related Pages.
Cavities Tooth Decay Cavities are caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria located in plaque that collects on teeth, especially along the gumline and in the crevices on the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby primary teeth. Oral Cancer In , there were nearly 45, new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx diagnosed in the United States and more than 10, deaths.
gov References U. Department of Health and Human Services, Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health.
Rockville, MD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, — to — Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; Community Preventive Services Task Force.
The Guide to Community Preventive Services. Preventing dental caries: community water fluoridation abbreviated.
Lower and middle-income families Oral health children may be eligible Iron-rich diet oral health heaoth. Community Water Fluoridation is a safe, effective and hdalth way Oral health prevent tooth healty. You can Oral health Olive oil hair information about fluoride under the Health Information tab on this web page or by visiting Community water fluoridation in Alberta at MyHealth. Health professionals can learn more about this topic by visiting Water Fluoridation - What Does the Science Say? Information for Health Professionals. Children Older Adults Chronic Diseases Dental Treatment Fluoride Pregnancy Tobacco. Visit Oral Health, Health Professionals under the heading of Learning Modules to view Mouth Care Oral Hygiene for Care Providers for Dependent Adults.
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