The first thing people notice about you is the smile, and also if you have something going on in your mouth. Really, when you talk to people, your dental health becomes obvious, at least for simple symptoms such as yellowing of teeth and bad breath. Sometimes, it is we ourselves who don’t realize it.
Dental hygiene is of utmost importance, because in the long run it is going to affect your intake of food. So how would you know if something is wrong with your teeth and gums, and if something is wrong, then what is it?
From the perspective of dental hygiene, let’s check out some of the common dental symptoms and their diagnosis.
- Tooth Sensitivity – This is one of the most common symptoms experienced by people and it can be a sign of many dental conditions. If you experience sharp pain when taking in food of extreme temperature (hot or cold), you have a sensitive tooth. This can happen because of – gum recession (gum recedes exposing the root), enamel wearing off, gum diseases, and caries. Basically, if something causes the root of your tooth to be exposed, you are bound to feel the sensitivity.
- Bad Breath – Such a common thing, yet ignored by most. Yes, if you chew on an onion, you will get a bad breath. But apart from eating certain kinds of food, bad breath has other causes too. Regular bad breath indicates poor dental hygiene, thus allowing bacteria to thrive in the gaps, gums and tongue. You could also be suffering from caries or gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis. In these cases, the plaque accumulates on the surfaces and causes a bad breath.
- Toothache – Toothache is not just a symptom seen in kids, but also adults. It indicates presence of dental decay or caries. Caries happen when you don’t take proper care of your teeth. This can cause food particles and bacteria to settle in the gaps, producing acid and damaging the enamel. When your enamel is damaged, you can get caries. A great way to take care of this is to apply a sealant on the teeth, and of course maintain oral hygiene too.
Apart from regular brushing, you may try out the following popular dental procedures:
- Sealants – This is a plastic material layer applied to the surface of teeth, protecting your teeth for several years. Studies have proved the benefits of sealants.
- Scaling & Root Planing – In teeth scaling, the teeth and gums are cleaned to remove plague. Removing plaque solves most of the common dental problems. You can get this done once or twice a year. Though these treatments are quite common.
These procedures are typically performed by a dental hygienist at a dental clinic.
Though it may look overwhelming, maintaining dental hygiene is quite uncomplicated. All you have to do is be regular in brushing and flossing.