What Are the Most Common Oral Health Problems?

What Are the Most Common Oral Health Problems?

March 1, 2023

Oral health is an acronym referring to the well-being of your teeth, gums, and the entire orofacial system enabling you to smile, speak, and chew. It is also a portion of your body where medical professionals in dentistry routinely notice health problems.

Over 40 percent of adults report feeling pain in the mouth over the last year. You might find it surprising to believe cavities exist in almost 80 percent of adults with at least one hole in their teeth by 34, and the money spent on dental care annually by Americans is an astounding $ 124 billion. In addition, children lose 34 million school hours, and productivity loss is estimated at $ 45 million annually because of dental emergencies requiring unexpected care.

An oral health issue is not considered similar to other chronic conditions. Unfortunately, systemic health problems are interrelated with your oral health. Poor oral health is associated with systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Risk behaviors like using tobacco in any form and consuming excessive sugary foods and beverages are also associated with oral infections.

Strategies of public health implemented by the authorities, such as water fluoridation and sealant programs for children, have proven themselves as safe and effective interventions to prevent tooth decay and reduce expenditure.

Familiar Oral Health Problems

Tooth Decay

The most common oral health problem the dentist in Tigard notices is the prevalence of tooth decay in patients’ mouths. Tooth decay results from the breakdown of tooth enamel by acids deposited by bacteria in dental plaque constantly collecting on the teeth. Dental plaque is noticeable along the teeth, gum line, and chewing surfaces of the teeth. The bacteria produce the acids after feasting themselves on the carbohydrate-rich foods and beverages patients consume to cause enamel erosion or breakdown of the exterior coating of the teeth’ tooth enamel.

Although tooth decay is preventable, it is one of the most chronic infections in patient’s mouths. Cavities never stop developing throughout the life of people. Untreated cavities can result in a dental abscess, a severe condition under the gums leading to other parts of the body resulting in concerning issues and fatalities in rare cases.

Over 50 percent of children between six and eight have a hole in their primary teeth, and 10 percent have 2 to 5 untreated cavities. Fifty percent of adolescents between 12 and 19 have at least one cavity on their permanent teeth, 25 percent of adults between 20 and 64 leave cavities untreated, and 90 percent of adults have at least one hole. If you are in a similar situation and think cavities are insignificant despite having access to a dentist nearby, you are inviting trouble in your mouth and your wallet by making yourself vulnerable to severe conditions because tooth decay doesn’t heal itself and needs treatment from the dentist near you as soon as they detect them during routine exams and cleanings.

Periodontal Disease

About 40 percent of American adults over 30 are affected by periodontal disease resulting in infection and inflammation of the gums and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. In addition, some chronic conditions also enhance the risk of periodontal disease, including diabetes, weakened immune systems, poor dental hygiene, genetics, pregnancy, and the lack of appropriate care from their dentist to prevent the infection from making its presence felt and reversing it.

The primary reason for the development of periodontal disease is poor oral hygiene; when you neglect to brush and floss as suggested by the Tigard dentist, use products risky for your oral health and cancel scheduled appointments for dental exams and cleanings to gradually allow periodontal disease to infect your mouth with intentions to remain there for life unless you take measures to reverse the infection by receiving timely treatment from your dentist.

Periodontal disease progresses silently until it reaches aggressive periodontitis, making you a victim of jawbone deterioration, tooth loss, and various other health conditions. Therefore the earlier you receive treatment for periodontal disease, the better for preserving your oral health, considerable finances, and time because this infection makes you need more frequent appointments with your dentist than at six monthly intervals.

Oral Cancer

Although oral cancer is not as common as gum disease and tooth decay, approximately 50,000 people are diagnosed with this condition. The five-year survival rate after a diagnosis is just over 50 percent. Unfortunately, the survival rate indicates nearly half the number of people diagnosed with this condition succumb to it, with men accounting for more fatalities than women. The higher fatalities make dentists perform oral cancer screening whenever patients visit them for routine exams because early detection results in better treatment outcomes.

Fifty thousand oral cancer cases annually in America might appear to be a small number compared to the billions of cavities or the sheer number of people affected by gum disease. However, dentists consider all teeth and people’s lives valuable, ensuring they provide optimal services to ensure people lead healthy lives without oral health problems imposing challenges upon them.

If you have tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health problems, Inspire Dental can detect and treat the issues whenever you visit them for routine exams. Therefore why not schedule your appointment today to receive an assessment that puts your mind at peace besides saving you plenty of money you might have to cough up if dentists detect issues with your oral health?