You get one set of adult teeth. They can start appearing from age 6 upward and they have to last you a lifetime. Considering the average life expectancy is slowly increasing, your adult teeth may need to last you 80, or 90 years! The good news is that it’s possible.
You’ll need to brush them for at least two minutes twice a day, floss once a day, and visit a good dentist, such as this Alexandria dentist regularly. This will help to identify issues early and sort them out before they become major problems.
It’s never too late to start brushing regularly and visiting your dentist. However, if you’re already experiencing regular issues with your teeth, you may wish to know why this is happening:
Poor Oral Hygiene
The most obvious issue is that you’re getting a lot of cavities and associated toothache. This can simply be because you’re not taking good enough care of your teeth. A lack of regular oral hygiene allows plaque to build up in your mouth. This traps bacteria, allowing them to enter your gums and any existing damage to your teeth.
Bacteria can damage the soft inner of your teeth and even cause abscesses and infections. These are normally accompanied by toothache.
The cure is a good cleaning session at your dentist along with filling cavities and then improving your oral hygiene techniques.
Poor Dietary Choices
A big issue that people are facing today is the easy availability of processed foods. It’s much easier to grab convenience food than it is to cook. Unfortunately, processed foods tend to be high in sugar and salt. Neither of which is good for your body. The sugar in these foods will mix with bacteria in your mouth and create acid, which damages the enamel on your teeth.
Combine this with the ease of snacking and brushing twice a day simply isn’t enough to combat the effects of sugar in your diet.
Overcrowding
Humans are constantly evolving and, in recent years, it has become apparent that the wisdom teeth that many people have later in life are increasingly causing issues. The biggest problem is that they place pressure on the other teeth in your mouth. This overcrowding cause teeth to be out of alignment, affecting your ability to bite cleanly.
More importantly, misaligned teeth create additional spaces for plaque, food debris, and bacteria to collect. That increases the likelihood of issues in your mouth.
Medications
If you’ve been careful with your dental hygiene routine and what you eat, yet you are still facing teeth issues, then it is likely that the cause is something different. A common cause of tooth problems is simply a side-effect of medications.
You’ve probably never read all the side effects of any medication you’re taking. But, it’s worth taking a look. You may find that is what is causing your issues.
Of course, teeth can also be weakened by specific diseases, such as oral cancer. You’ll have to balance what the medication is for against the damage it is doing to your teeth.