Did you know that leaving your teeth untreated leads to chronic and irreversible dental health issues? Taking care of your teeth daily is crucial to maintain your mood and focus throughout the day. This involves brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth after every meal to keep those teeth shining bright.
However, while these good habits can help to prevent oral health issues from developing in your mouth, most people forget to visit a general dentist for regular check-ups. A general dentist is a professional qualified to treat all health issues related to your teeth and gums. Forgetting to visit your general dentist for regular check-ups leads to the development of many dental issues.
So, let’s take a look at the most common oral health issues that general dentists treat in Houston.
Tooth Decay and Plaque Build-Up
This is by far the most common dental health issue that general dentists have to deal with. It is not only a common health issue in Houston, but also in the entirety of the U.S. Tooth decay is the result of leftover food particles on the surface of teeth. When these particles decay, they promote the growth of bacteria which create a smelly yellow coating on the teeth known as Plaque.
Untreated plaque eventually leads to tooth decay and cavities which are very painful to deal with once they appear on our teeth. Visiting your general dentist for regular check-ups can help to detect this issue at an early stage of development and even prevent it through tooth cleaning. So, don’t skip your regular visits to the general dentists to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 21% of adults in the U.S. have one permanent tooth with untreated tooth decay.
Source: Oral Health Surveillance Report by CDC
Sensitivity in Tooth
Sensitivity is a common issue that is mostly observed in adults, but in recent years has started to manifest in adolescents and even children as well. Tooth sensitivity is described as a feeling of pain and discomfort in your gums upon consuming any hot or cold food items. This disease occurs when the enamel of a tooth becomes corroded which exposes the gums to the food.
Gums are a very sensitive organ which leads to this discomfort and pain. General dentists in Houston are skilled at dealing with this dental issue. They first try to understand the main reason behind this sensitivity and then use desensitizing toothpaste, dental bonding, or application of fluoride to protect the gums from coming into direct contact with the food you consume.
Gum Diseases
Gum diseases are also among the most common forms of dental health issues that general dentists have to deal with. Leaving dental issues like tooth decay and cavities untreated eventually leads to the infection spreading to your gums. Bleeding gums, loose teeth, and bad breath are signs that your gums may be infected.
During the early stages, gum diseases are known as Gingivitis. An experienced general dentist, if approached during this stage, can provide treatment that can fix the issue. However, if left untreated, Gingivitis will evolve into Periodontitis. While general dentists can provide relief from Periodontitis, Periodontitis is in many cases irreversible.
So, remember to visit your general dentist as soon as possible in cases of gum disease.
Misaligned and Chipped Teeth
Sometimes, due to accidents and other injuries, your teeth can get chipped or develop cracks. In certain cases, your teeth become misaligned which results in improper bites. Thankfully, a general dentist is fully equipped to fix all of these issues and is well-trained in the treatment procedure for these dental problems.
For cracked and chipped teeth, general dentists use dental bonding, veneers, and crowns to restore the tooth back to its original state. For misaligned teeth, dental crowns, dentures, and bridges are used to realign the teeth and fix your bites.
Tooth Removal
Unfortunately, in certain cases, your tooth becomes so badly damaged that the only way to save your gums is to remove the infected tooth. Tooth removal is a fairly simple procedure that is done by a general dentist to prevent further spread of the infection in your mouth. Once the tooth is removed, you either have to wear dentures, or you can get artificial teeth installed.
Artificial teeth are implants that are placed within your gums to act as roots which then hold the artificial tooth in place. Dental implants have started to become a common service that is provided by most general dentists these days.
Conclusion
General dentists are professionals who specialize in treating all kinds of dental health issues that may develop in your teeth. You must visit a general dentist at regular intervals to ensure that your teeth are not developing any health issues. Untreated dental health issues can result in irreversible problems that are very painful to deal with.
So, if you are looking for a reliable general dentist in Houston, contact All Stars Dental today. Check out these amazing Google reviews left by their patients which speak of their quality of service and expertise in handling all dental health issues.