6 Common Oral Issues That Can Destroy Your Teeth

There are a lot of various oral issues that can affect your oral cavity. However, some of them can lead to the development of severe complications and even make you lose your teeth. Some of these conditions can cause obvious symptoms right after the occurrence, while others can develop symptomatically for a long time. You should understand that proper oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular visits to a dental office can help prevent the development of serious complications. Here is a list of seven common oral issues that can destroy your teeth.

1. Tooth decay

Tooth decay, also known as caries or cavities, is an extremely common condition that can affect both children and adults. Many people think that cavities are not dangerous so they can be left untreated. But in addition to severe toothache and bad breath, tooth decay can actually destroy the tooth. If you don't undergo timely treatment for tooth decay, it can affect the inner sensitive layers of the tooth and its roots. A severely damaged tooth may need to be replaced with a dental implant.

2. Dental abscess

A dental abscess is a condition that occurs when the infection gets inside of the tooth and leads to the development of pus. This pus should be removed as soon as possible since it can spread to your jaw and other parts of the head. In many cases, a dental abscess can be treated with the help of a root canal procedure. However, if dental abscess reoccurs too often and root canal treatment doesn't help, you may need to extract the tooth.

3. Tooth fracture

Tooth fracture is a condition in which a tooth cracks vertically or horizontally. This condition can be not only extremely painful but also quite dangerous since the inner sensitive layers of the juice can be exposed to infections. Some tooth fractures can be restored with the help of tooth filling or a dental crown. However, severe fractures (when the parts of the tooth can't be reattached) can lead to severe damage so you may need to extract the tooth or its pieces and replace it with dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures.

4. Gum disease

Gum disease is a condition in which gums become inflamed because of bacteria overgrowth in the mouth. This condition usually manifests through gum bleeding, redness, swelling, and tenderness that is accompanied by bad breath and receding gums. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to the development of periodontitis that manifests through gum pockets and loose teeth that can fall out over time. Since this condition can also lead to gum and bone loss, you may need to undergo gum and bone grafting before getting dental implants. That's why it is better to undergo periodontal disease treatment in time.

5. Impacted tooth

If a permanent tooth doesn't come out properly, it is called an impacted tooth. This condition develops when a tooth is stuck against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue. In many cases, such a tooth doesn't cause any symptoms or complications. However, an impacted tooth can also press on the neighboring tooth and destroy its roots so one of these teeth should be extracted. 

6. Receding gums

Receding gums is a condition in which gums shrink and expose some parts of the tooth. This condition can be caused by gum disease, poor oral hygiene, smoking, aggressive tooth brushing, and other factors that can affect your gums. Without timely and proper treatment, your gums can recede more and make your teeth lose their support. This can result in loose teeth and tooth loss.