COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS (KIDS AND ADULTS) 

                                                                                           TOOTH DECAY

Tooth decay refers to the loss of minerals from tooth structure caused by bacteria. The tooth surfaces are normally covered with dental plaque. The bacteria in the dental plaque will metabolize the sugars in your food and produce acids which will demineralize the tooth surface. Decay usually occurs at enamel of the tooth. Early stage of tooth decay is usually painless and the tooth seems undamaged from naked eye. Therefore, it is difficult to notice the decay.

STAINED TEETH

Your teeth are like your laundry: The right approach will remove many stains. Foods, medications, tobacco, and trauma are some of the things that can discolor your teeth.  You have three options for whitening them. Your dentist can use a whitening agent and a special light in his office. Or you can bleach them at home with a plastic tray and gel from your dentist or a store. The simplest choice, whitening toothpaste, only removes surface stains.

                                                                                      SENSITIVE TO COLD 

 Ice cream should taste good, not make you wince when the cold hits your teeth. The first step is to find the cause. It could be cavities, worn tooth enamel or fillings, gum disease, fractured teeth, or exposed roots. Once your dentist figures out the problem, you might need a filling, a root canal, or treatment of your gums to replace tissue lost at the root. Or you might just need a desensitizing toothpaste or strip, or a fluoride gel.

                                                                                                      CAVITIES

These little holes in your teeth are bad news. You get them when a sticky bacteria, called plaque, builds up on your teeth, slowly destroying the hard outer shell, called enamel. Adults can also have problems with tooth decay at the gum line and around the edges of earlier fillings. To prevent it, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, limit snacks, floss daily, and keep up with your dental appointments. Ask your dentist if you should use a sealant or a fluoride rinse.

HYPERDONTIA (TOO MANY TEETH)

How many teeth are in your mouth? If you’re like most people, you had 20 primary, or “baby,” teeth, and you now have 32 adult teeth.  It's rare, but some people have extra teeth, which is called hyperdontia. People who have it usually also have another condition, such as a cleft palate or Gardner’s Syndrome (which forms tumors that aren't cancer). The treatment is to get the extra teeth removed and use orthodontics to correct the bite.

DR. ANGEL SAYS: 

        Here are some problems usually encountered by my patients. If you're experiencing some of these too, don't hesitate. Come and visit me on my clinic. Have a nice day! :)