8 Common Dental Problems | Children and Adults

“13% of America’s youth ages 2-19 have untreated cavities”
No matter what age you are, going to the dentist should be priority. How are you going to enjoy your favorite food if your teeth hurt? In some cases, the person may not even know they have a dental problem. If your teeth hurt now, or think you may have an issue, check out this list of 8 common dental problems faced by children and/or adults.

1. Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, also known as a cavity, is the permanent damage done to the hard areas of the tooth resulting in small holes. Tooth decay can affect anyone of any age. Although, children are more susceptible to tooth decay because their enamel is not as strong as an adult. Cavities are caused by bacteria eating away at the enamel. Also, consuming sugary foods and drink, along with poor oral hygiene are catalyst for tooth decay.

2. Halitosis
Halitosis is chronic bad breath. This isn’t the “I ate a salad with lots of onions for lunch” type of bad breath. Common causes of chronic bad breath are gum disease, tooth decay, and dry mouth.

3. Gum Disease
About 65 million people ages 30 or older have signs of gum disease. Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease. The two most common types of gum disease are Gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. The step-up of Gingivitis is Periodontitis. Symptoms of Periodontitis include gums bleeding easily, gums beginning to recede, and swollen gums. Gum disease is caused by allowing plaque to build-up and harden. Prevent gum disease by practicing good oral hygiene!

4.Teeth Alignment
A common problem among teenagers and adults is crooked teeth. There many reasons for crooked teeth, most of which are inherited traits. The most common cause of crooked teeth is that your mouth could be too small for all your teeth causing crowding and overlapping. The best fix for this is getting braces. Over 4 million people in the US have braces, 25% of which are adults.

5. Discoloration
Hit the share button if you love coffee, tea, or wine! A Common cause of teeth yellowing are drink like coffee, wine, or tea staining your enamel. Smoking can also cause yellow teeth. A fix for yellow is teeth whitening. There are teeth whitening strips that are available over-counter. If those don’t work, there are more whitening strips and procedures offered by your dentist.

6. Wisdom Teeth
Approximately 85% of people need to have their wisdom teeth removed in their lifetime. There are many reasons to get your wisdom teeth removed, some of which include:

Impacted in the jaw
Need more space in your mouth
Pain
Tooth decay
Partially erupted

7. Impacted Teeth
An impacted tooth is either when the tooth has not erupted when expected or has no room to erupt. With children, a permanent tooth can be impacted when a baby tooth does not fallout at the expected time. Impacted teeth can be fixed by removing the blocking tooth or oral surgery to chain the tooth.

8. Oral Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, about 53,000 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2019. These types of cancers are twice as common in men than in women. The most common risk factors for oral cancer is tobacco use and heavy alcohol use.

If you are experiencing any of these common dental problems, come see us at Lee Dentistry! Lee Dentistry is located in Oxford MS. Our Family Dentists provide dental services and treatments for the whole family and can give you the advice for your orthodontic needs. Give us a call at (662)-513- 0055 or click here to schedule an appointment.

Lee Family and Cosmetic Dentistry