Rarely when someone thinks about health issues that they may encounter do they think about the health of their teeth. When money is tight, most people put dental treatments as a low priority. Of course, dentists tell us that we shouldn’t skimp on dental care.
The leading cause of oral cancer is tobacco. But, there are instances in which people who are non-smokers have been stricken with the disease. Oral cancer is usually evident in people over 40. The prognosis for oral cancer is generally not very good; only half of the people suffering from it survive more than five years, but dentists say there is still hope. Diets that are high in fruits and vegetables can help to prevent cancer from developing, early detection can be key to stalling or even reversing the effects of oral cancer, and new treatments are emerging for patients to try. Denstists can now detect lesions that may or not be cancerous very early on, with the help of new technology that enhances visualization of these lesions.
When the gums and tissues that hold your teeth in place become infected, it’s considered Periodontal Disease. Gingivitis is mild and reversible at the beginning and then the second stage is periodontitis. If you smoke, take certain medications, or have fillings that are defective, you are at risk. There are several distinctive symptoms of periodontal disease, including bad breath, bleeding gums, the spacing out of front teeth, and widening of the spaces between teeth. Regular professional dentist appointments and good home care (flossing, brushing, and rinsing with antiseptic mouth wash) can prevent problems.
A cavity is a type of infection, and you will be prone to them if you don’t follow a good home dental care plan, and you eat a lot of high-sugar food and sweet drinks. Dental amalgam, which has been used for centuries as a cavity filler, is made of a combination of metallic elements including tin, copper, mercury and silver. These days there are some worries about the safety of using anything that includes mercury. The National Institutes of Health and other organizations in the US The National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Public Health service promise the safety of them. Dental amalgam has long been respected for its use as filling material due to its low cost, durability and strength; however, there are other options. A common alternative to amalgam fillings are white composite fillings. They look better than metal, keep the tooth looking like a tooth, and hold on to the tooth itself.
If you want to keep your soft gum tissue healthy and maintain the bones of your teeth, a regular cleaning by a dentist is recommended. Ten years of dental neglect set the stage for a forty-eight year old accountant to suffer through a deep cleaning, the placement of a crown and a root canal. When periodontal disease strikes deep pockets can form at the gumline. These pockets cannot be cleaned by normal brushing alone. Only professional dental work can close up the pockets by removing any infected tissue, eliminating bacteria, and smoothing the surface of the roots in order to prevent the development of tartar. A little money invested in regular health checkups now can mean a lot of money saved in the future.
Bad breath or halitosis is a problem for everyone at one time or another. Halitosis has many catalysts, which may be brought on for a number of reasons. A simple onion covered burger or garlic covered pasta can trigger it. Dry mouth, tobacco, and poor dental hygiene, are other causes of bad breath. Postnasal drip can result in halitosis, as well as other, more serious illnesses involving the kidneys or liver. Avoiding odor causing foods can help eliminate bad breath because the food and bacteria gets trapped in our taste buds of our tongue-producing fowl odors. Remember to brush your tongue as well as your teeth! Mouthwash will help as well. Advanced technologies have brought us a long way from the chewing-sticks used by the Babylonians as early as 3500 BC. Even without all the high tech teeth altering gear we have, a simple tooth brush can be your most essential tool.
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