Good dental hygiene, including making regular visits to your Calgary dentist, is a very important part of being healthy that often gets overlooked. Research has shown that there is a link between poor oral care/gum disease and serious chronic illnesses including:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory infections
- Dementia
- Diabetic complications
At Marlborough Dental Centre, we believe that high dental prices should never force you to compromise your oral health. That’s why we strive to provide necessary services, such as dental cleanings, at great costs.
We also offer direct billing services and our Calgary dentists are happy to talk with our patients about any financing concerns you may have.
4 Most Common Oral Problems & How to Avoid Them
Practicing proper oral care is very important if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy. While visiting your dentist for regular dental cleanings and checkups is crucial to your dental health, there are certain habits you can practice at home to reduce your oral health risk.
Here are four of the most common oral problems and how you can avoid them:
1. Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. If not properly taken care of, it can lead to periodontitis, which causes irritated, red and painful gums.
Some of the signs of gingivitis include:
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gums which have receded or pulled away from your teeth
Cause: Inflamed gum tissue is often caused by plaque buildup around the teeth
How to Prevent Gingivitis: The good news is that gingivitis is preventable and reversible. Practicing good oral habits such as visiting your dentist regularly for dental cleanings and brushing/flossing twice a day will keep the plaque off your teeth.
2. Tooth decay
One of the most common oral health problems is tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel - the hard, outer layer of your teeth.
Some of the symptoms of tooth decay include:
- Tooth sensitivity when eating hot/cold foods
- Visible holes or pits in your teeth
- Brown or black staining on the surface of your tooth
- Toothaches
Cause: Tooth decay is caused by excess sugar consumption, poor dental hygiene, smoking and dry mouth.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay: Brushing and flossing twice daily is the simplest way to protect your teeth from decay. Using fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash as well as sticking to a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing cavities.
At Marlborough Dental Centre, we provide affordable dentist services such as low-cost dental cleanings and checkups to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
3. Gum recession
Receding gums is a serious oral problem which refers to the progressive loss of gum tissue which can eventually result in tooth root exposure if left untreated.
Some of the signs of gum recession include:
- Sensitive teeth
- Visible roots
- Longer-looking teeth
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Bleeding gums
Cause: Gum recession can be caused by a number of behaviors including: overaggressive brushing, chewing tobacco and poor oral hygiene.
How to Prevent Gum Recession: The best way to prevent gum recession is to practice good dental hygiene including brushing/flossing your teeth twice a day. In addition, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and visit your dentist at least twice a year.
4: Yellow teeth: Tooth discoloration is the process where teeth lose their white sheen and turn a darker yellow. It occurs naturally when the outer shell of dental enamel begins to weaken and turn translucent, showing the more yellow-colored dentin beneath.
Cause: Teeth may gradually become yellow due to aging, hereditary factors, poor dental hygiene or excessive consumption of tea, coffee or cigarettes.
How to Prevent Yellowing Teeth: One of the best ways to prevent yellowing teeth is to avoid stain-causing food and beverages.
At our Calgary dental centre, we offer teeth whitening services and cleanings at affordable dental prices to keep your teeth strong, bright and healthy.
Learn More
To find out more about our dental prices or how our affordable dentists can help protect your oral health, call our Calgary clinic at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.
