Common Oral Conditions And How To Treat Them

An oral disease, or any oral condition, refers to diseases that can happen anywhere around your mouth area, including the gums, teeth, tongue, tonsils, and the upper part of your throat. Some oral conditions are minor, while some can, unfortunately, be serious.

Your oral health shouldn’t be left as your least priority. In fact, taking care of your oral health should come alongside all of the other health measures you practice to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It should be a life-long commitment if you’re serious about preventing oral conditions as much as possible.

With that said, here’s a list of some of the most common oral conditions and how you can treat them:

1. Canker Sores

Canker sores are small ulcers that develop inside the mouth. In some cases, these can also sprout on your tongue, gums, cheeks, throat, or lips. Depending on their severity, some canker sores can either be white, gray, or black, often with a reddish lining. As small as these are, however, they can be very painful.

Before the sores actually start to pop or appear, you may start to feel a burning sensation around your mouth. Days later, the sores themselves will fully develop.

If you have canker sores, some of the treatment forms may include the following:

• Red light therapy such as those offered by LightTherapy.org;
• Topical or oral medication to relieve the inflammation;
• Avoiding acidic and spicy food, which may only worsen the pain.

2. Dental Caries Or Cavities

Be it children or adults, dental cavities can be very common. These are usually brought about by poor eating habits and the lack of proper oral hygiene practices.

Cavities happen when bacteria stick to the teeth. Eventually, they’ll cause wear and tear to the tooth’s enamel. Once this wear and tear happen, the bacteria can settle in the teeth, and therefore form cavities.

The best way to have your dental cavities sorted out is always by visiting a dentist. Apart from the treatment, your dentist will apply to your teeth, you’ll also be given insights on the best oral health practices. By doing so, you can make changes in your lifestyle to avoid cavities from developing over and over again. These may include the following practices:

• Avoiding sugary food and drinks,
• Brushing regularly (after every meal) with fluoride toothpaste,
• Availing of dental care treatments, like fluoride treatments, fillings, crowns, and root canals.

3. Gum Disease (Gingivitis)

Gingivitis refers to an inflammation of the gums. This usually happens after plaque starts to build up on your teeth because of poor brushing and flossing habits. You can tell that you may be suffering from gingivitis when your gums swell and bleed when you brush your teeth.

Your dentist will give you a diagnosis of gingivitis based on the following factors:

• An examination of your teeth, tongue, gums, and mouth;
• A dental x-ray;
• A review of both your medical and dental records.

Once diagnosed with gingivitis, it can be treated through the following means:

• Professional cleaning and care by your dentist;
• Salt water treatment, which means gargling a mixture of salt and water regularly;
• Guava leaf mouthwash, because of guava leaves’ antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

4. Oral Cancer

Along the serious line of mouth diseases is oral cancer. When a person suffers from oral cancer, they usually experience a sore or growth in the mouth that doesn’t go away. This can grow on any part of the mouth, lips, gums, or tongue.

Unfortunately, if oral cancer isn’t diagnosed and treated early, it can be potentially life-threatening. Some of the most common forms of treating oral cancers include the following:

• Surgery to remove the growth or tumor itself on the mouth;
• Surgery to remove any potential cancerous growth that may have spread on the neck;
• Surgery to reconstruct the mouth, so you can start with the therapy to help you learn how to eat and talk properly.

5. Noma

Noma is also another severe type of oral condition, mostly affecting children between the ages of two and six years old. When a person suffers from Noma, the mouth and face may start to enter the gangrenous stage. This usually affects children suffering from malnutrition, weak immune systems, and poor hygiene practices.

Unfortunately, if not treated, noma can also be life-threatening.

Therefore, hiring a trustworthy pediatric dentist to treat this type of oral condition is important. If you haven’t found one, research and learn as much as possible about the different dentists in your area. This includes checking out their websites, reading online reviews, and asking your family and friends for recommendations.

Also, finding a local pediatric dental professional is best to ensure better, more personalized, and more reliable customer service. For example, if you’re from Alexandria, look for a dentist specializing in Alexandria children’s dentistry to ensure a more favorable outcome.

6. Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is another common problem that affects many people. It refers to a condition wherein the teeth become sensitive to stimuli like acidic, cold, hot, and sweet foods and drinks. The pain is caused by exposed dentin, the layer of tissues below the enamel that contains blood vessels and nerves.

Tooth sensitivity can indicate an abscessed or cracked tooth, which a dentist should treat. Otherwise, you risk getting an infection in your jawbone or losing a tooth. So, if you have a sensitive tooth, there are several things you can do to relieve the pain and treat it. These can include:

• Using a toothpaste intended for sensitive teeth;
• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush;
• Flossing regularly;
• Avoiding acidic foods and drinks;
• Seeing a dentist.

By considering these things, you can manage tooth sensitivity.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different kinds of oral health conditions a person may suffer from. Many of these can stem from poor hygiene practices. So, apart from learning about the treatment forms, do make it a point to also practice better oral hygiene. This list also isn’t meant to substitute medical advice from your dentist or any other medical professional. If your symptoms persist, never self-medicate. There’s no substitute for a physical assessment from your dentist.