3 Most Common Dental Problems (and How They’re Treated)

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 3.5 billion adults around the world are diagnosed with different oral diseases. That is nearly half of the current world population. Luckily, many oral diseases can be prevented with at-home methods. These diseases include dental decay, infectious diseases, and gum disease. Though not exactly a disease, oral injuries can also be prevented because they’re mostly caused by dangerous conditions, social violence, and accidents. If prevention is not an option anymore, gaining more knowledge about the common culprits and signs of oral diseases can help you diagnose them in time and start appropriate treatment.

Continue reading to learn about the three common oral diseases, their causes, and ways they’re treated.

1. Oral injury

According to the World Health Organization, about 20% of people have experienced an oral injury at some point in their lives. Oral injury can result from accidents, violent behavior, and dangerous conditions. Most cases of oral injury occur while people are playing sports. Hence, try decreasing your risk by wearing a helmet and a mouthguard.

In case of an oral injury, visit a dental specialist right away. A tooth that has been knocked out can still be saved within the first hour. Some oral injuries can be severely traumatic, leading to changes in your facial structure and impaired mental well-being. Hence, if you’ve got injured, seek immediate medical attention.

2. Infectious diseases

The most known infectious oral disease is oral herpes. Oral herpes is an infection that results from the herpes simplex virus and usually occurs in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Once the virus enters a child’s body, it stays there permanently. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, about 50% to 80% of adults are living either with dormant or active oral herpes. If not catching the virus in their childhood, most adults get it due to contact with kids or adults that experience an outbreak.

Those being diagnosed with HIV are the most vulnerable to fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. These infections typically lead to lesions developing on your lips, under your tongue, and on the inner surfaces of your cheeks. These lesions can cause discomfort and pain and may trigger xerostomia and difficulty swallowing. For infections associated with HIV, the treatment will depend on the specific disease.

After the initial infection, the antibodies that fight the virus will start to develop in your system. Hence, your further attacks won’t be as severe, or the virus may become inactive. Remember that taking antiviral medications while experiencing the early stages of oral herpes can help prevent it from developing. Besides, you can minimize your oral herpes attacks by staying physically and mentally healthy.

3. Gum disease

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, various stages of gum disease affect about 50% of adults aged over 30. Gum disease can cause both minor symptoms like mildly swollen gums and serious problems like loose teeth. This condition usually develops in three stages. These are:

- Dental plaque and tartar form on your teeth, leading to gingivitis.

- Gingivitis damages the soft tissue around your gums, slowly developing into periodontitis.

- Your gums start to develop pockets filled with infection that affects your teeth and the underlying jawbone.

The early stage of gum disease can be reversed if diagnosed timely. If gum disease progresses and causes irreversible damage, your dentist can perform a deep cleaning to remove plaque and infection from the affected tooth. The specialist can also prescribe antibiotics. If you’re diagnosed with severe periodontitis, surgery may be necessary for you.

The bottom line

If you experience symptoms of the aforementioned conditions, make visiting a dental specialist your main priority. The dentist will help you determine their proper cause and start appropriate treatment.