The basics of oral health

22 July 2022

The basics of oral health

Oral health is a crucial part of your overall well-being. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums holds immense importance and must not be neglected. Apart from adopting good oral hygiene practices at home, regular dental check-ups by a professional are also necessary to diagnose and treat any potential problems that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Here is all you need to know about the basics of Oral Health!

Tips for maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

Brush your teeth with dentist-recommended fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush at least twice a day. You should get the hang of the proper technique of brushing to make it more fruitful. The tongue is a significant part of your mouth, but it is often missed when we talk about cleaning the mouth. Take extra care to clean your tongue along with the other structures of your mouth. Visit a dental clinic and learn more about the tips and tricks of brushing teeth.

Don’t forget to floss in between the teeth, as the food stuck in the gaps between the teeth is the linchpin from which bacteria derive the greatest advantage. So, flossing once a day or every other day can save your mouth from becoming a storehouse of bacteria.

Be extremely careful with what you eat because your eating habits have a substantial impact on your oral health. Consider eating healthy food items, including fruits and vegetables, limit the consumption of excess sugars, say no to Alcohol and Tobacco products. Adopting these habits will lead you towards the path of healthy oral as well as overall well-being.

Don’t miss your dental check-ups. To keep your oral health on track, routine check-ups are extremely important. In a routine check-up, your dentist will thoroughly evaluate your oral health, look for any potential problems, assess the progress of any dental treatment undertaken, and guide you on the ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Symptoms of dental problems.

You should keep an eye out for any of the indications of dental issues. Most often, early symptoms may remain unnoticed, and attention is focused only later when the disease becomes severe. If you notice even mild aberrations in your mouth, seek help from a dentist for the proper assessment.

The following are a few red flags indicating dental problems:

• Non-healing ulcers, sores in the oral cavity that are either painful or bleed on touch.
• White or red patches in your oral cavity cannot be scraped off. These patches may be the premalignant lesions, leukoplakia, or erythroplakia that ultimately progress to oral cancers.
• Swollen and tender gums, bleeding gums, and receding gum lines are all indicators of gum infection or periodontitis.
• Persistent bad breath is accentuated in the morning, right after you wake up. Bad breath is often due to an underlying disease process, such as periodontal disease, dry mouth, or infections of the sinus, throat, or nose.
• Sudden sharp pain in teeth on eating hot or cold food items, which is known as sensitivity. The main cause of sensitivity is rough handling of your teeth, which leads to abrasion of enamel and exposure of underlying sensitive tissue.
• A toothache is a symptom that is like the tip of an iceberg. There can be a myriad of underlying causes that lead to a toothache. Tooth decay is the most common cause, but there are many other causes, such as a dental abscess or an impacted wisdom tooth. In rare cases, the pain can also be referred pain from other sites.
• Swelling in any part of the mouth, cheek, or face. Swelling in the neck that hinders swallowing or causes painful swallowing may be due to life-threatening diseases such as oral cancers.

Diagnosis of oral diseases.

Most dental problems can be picked up early by a dentist during the routine oral examination. A dental checkup consists of a thorough and wholesome evaluation of your teeth, mouth, jaw, tongue, as well as face and neck. If there is any suspicion, the dentist will use radio imaging in the form of X-rays, MRI, or a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis and know the exact location and extent of the insult. If any abnormal lesion is seen, a biopsy may be taken for its detailed histopathological analysis. A biopsy involves a small piece of tissue being taken from the abnormal area.

If you are pregnant, make sure to inform your dentist beforehand, as the X-ray exposure may be harmful to the baby.

Treatment options for dental problems.

The treatment of dental problems is disease-specific and individual-specific. At Conway House, we aim to provide bespoke treatment to our patients for the best experience.

• Cleanings: Regular cleaning by a professional that aims to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar can help in preventing oral diseases to a great extent. Scaling or root planning is the extensive cleaning that removes tartar from areas that are not accessible during routine cleaning.
• Fluoride: The use of fluoride toothpaste can serve as a potent tool in preventing diseases and strengthening the teeth.
• Antibiotics: In case of bacterial infection in gums and teeth or an abscess, antibiotics play an essential role in clearing the area of infection. Dental procedures are taken up only after the area is infection-free. It may be given as an oral tablet or topical gel, mouthwash, or ointment.
• Fillings and crowns: The most common and easy treatment option for dental cavities is fillings, followed by crown placement. Nowadays, there are cosmetically enhanced white composite fillings available that match the colour of your teeth.
• Root Canal Treatment: This is a very commonly performed procedure in dental practices. An RCT is performed when the infection has invaded the root canal and dental pulp of your teeth.
• Oral surgery: When minimally invasive procedures are not able to provide a cure, extensive oral surgery becomes imperative. The frequent surgeries in dental practice include flap surgery, bone grafting surgery, soft-tissue grafts, tooth extraction, and dental implant placement.

Your oral health impacts you in ways you must have never thought of. It impacts your confidence, self-esteem, and overall well-being. So, stay vigilant towards your teeth and give them the extra care they deserve.

Are you looking for an experienced dentist in High Wycombe? Conway House dental practice is available to cater to your dental needs. Along with skilled dentists and a relaxing environment, we offer you the most advanced dental treatments. Our dentists are constantly learning about the latest advances in dentistry to provide state-of-the-art treatment to the patients. So, if you are struggling with dental issues, visit the High Wycombe dentist at Conway House or call 01494 526 578 to book your appointment today.