5 Commonly Reported Oral Diseases and How To Treat Them
As per a report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), half the world’s population, which is approximately 3.5 billion, experience some form of an oral disease.
The positive side of this news points to the fact that most of the common oral diseases that find mention, are preventable, and can be treated at one’s home itself. The diseases that find a mention include oral infectious diseases, dental cavities, oral cancer and gum disease. Though not considered to be a disease, oral injuries that result from violence, unsafe conditions, and accidents are usually assumed to be preventable.
Oral injuries or diseases upon early detection can be treated with a good deal of success, though they could not be prevented from occuring.
1. Dental Cavities
Facts about dental cavities: It’s also known as the "most commonly occuring health condition" among individuals with permanent teeth. Dental cavities are also known as caries afflict adults and children, and the people affected globally is to the tune of around 3 billion; this fact emerged from the research conducted by a popular research institute as part of their study.
Dental cavities are generally formed when the following process happens, which in turn leads to decay:
1. Buildup of plaque on the teeth
2. Bacterial activity in the plaque that leads to the production of acids that can destroy the enamel.
Treatment for dental cavities: Upon noticing a cavity in a very early stage, the cavity can be mitigated through treatments that are based on fluorides. Else, use of dental fillings is considered as the recommended treatment for cavities.
If the situation of the cavity is pretty bad and a dental filling is of no use, then the only option would be to clean the cavity, and cover it with the use of a dental crown, provided the pulp of the teeth is not infected. If the pulp is infected, then the only solution is to undergo a root canal treatment, followed by the placement of a dental crown or bridge as the situation warrants. Hence, early detection of a cavity and its treatment alone can prevent the situation from going out of hand, and leading to a root canal treatment.
2. Gum Disease
Facts about gum disease: There are different kinds of gum diseases and they are otherwise known by the name periodontal disease, and they are known to affect individuals above the age of 30. A severe gum condition can lead to tooth loss, a milder condition will pose as swollen gums, and this can advance to bleeding gums when left untreated.
The stages of progression of gum disease is as follows:
1. Uninhibited buildup of tartar and plaque on your teeth can lead to gingivitis.
2. Gingivitis affects the soft tissues that make up the gumline, and the situation tends to worsen with continual bacterial growth in the area, and this in turn leads to periodontitis.
3. Periodontitis is a condition where one could notice that the gums seem to be pulling away from the teeth with the formation of pockets. This condition left untreated will lead to the worsening of the gum infection and it may lead to the extraction of the affected tooth.
Treatment of gum diseases: As always, early detection of gum disease when it is in the stage of gingivitis will help in reversing the problem. If it is beyond this stage then your dentist will suggest root planing and root scaling. This is a kind of treatment that helps remove the accumulated plaque from your teeth. Antibiotics will also be prescribed. If periodontitis is in an advanced stage then surgery will be on the cards.
3. Infectious Diseases
Facts about infectious diseases: The most popular among infectious oral diseases is oral herpes. It is better known as fever blisters or cold sores. Oral herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The virus tends to affect kids in the age group of 6 months to up to 5 years.
A child infected with the HSV-1 tends to carry the virus throughout their life. It is estimated that around 80 percent of adults live with this virus. The virus in them could be in an active or a dormant stage. Adults unaffected by the virus while they were kids, are prone to contract oral herpes if they come in direct contact with affected adults or children.
HIV-positive individuals are prone to viral, fungal, and bacterial infections. Infections can lead to development of lesions under the tongue, on the soft tissues inside of the cheeks, and also on the lips. The lesions may be painful or discomforting, and they may lead to swallowing difficulties and dry mouth.
Treatment for oral herpes: Post the first encounter with oral herpes, the body tends to build the necessary antibodies to combat the virus and so also the symptoms it tends to bring about. So, the subsequent HSV-1 infections are not that severe, or the virus will remain in a dormant state.
Nonetheless, if you’re in the early stages of an oral herpes infection, consuming antiviral medication stops the progression of the infection and can also prevent development of cold sores.
For HIV-related infections, treatment could vary depending on the specific condition.
4. Oral Cancers
Facts about oral cancers: According to a study by a popular cancer foundation, more than 50,000 people are affected by cancers of the throat or mouth each year. The oropharynx (section of the throat at the back of your mouth), gums, tongue, and tonsils are the regions that are most affected by oral cancers.
Since different types of oral cancers don't usually produce clear symptoms and signs in their early stages, it is really important to undergo regular dental checkups. Dental checkups are an effective means of uncovering oral cancers. Your dentist can screen you for oral cancer if you display any of the symptoms in the following:
● A white or red patch inside your mouth
● A lip or mouth sore that doesn’t heal
● Loose teeth
● A lump inside your mouth
● Persistent mouth pain, painful swallowing, or even ear pain
Dentists will have a keener look for symptoms of oral cancer if you are a person who consumes tobacco products.
Treatment of oral cancers: Depending on the cancer's stage and the type of oral cancer as per the diagnosis made, the treatment may be a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
5. Trauma of the Mouth
Facts about trauma of the mouth: According to observations made by the WHO, approximately 20% of people suffer from trauma to their teeth at least once during their lifetimes. Trauma of the mouth may occur as a result of various reasons including risk-taking behaviour, unsafe conditions, violence and accidents.
Sports injuries also account for a variety of cases of trauma of the mouth. Adopting preventive techniques, like wearing a helmet and a mouthguard, could reduce the likelihood of suffering a mouth injury while playing a full-contact sport.
Treatment: When someone is involved in an unfortunate incident that results in trauma of the mouth, it is best to get them immediate medical care. In the event of such an injury, acting with speed is the only option; the quicker that medical aid is made available, even a knocked out tooth can be put back in place.
Few injuries may involve complex surgeries as part of the treatment, and will be on the costlier side. Certain injuries can be traumatic and can affect the mental health of the person; it’s a fallout of the gravity of injuries to one’s face and the associated disfigurement.
Oral care helps you in numerous ways including giving you strong teeth, likewise, it also rids your mouth of diseases. Most of the oral diseases can be prevented by scheduling regular visits to the dentist, and practising good daily oral hygiene.
Tobacco use can be the reason behind certain other oral diseases, likewise, violence and consumption of unhealthy diets (especially sugary diets) can be the cause of certain other oral diseases. Hence, it is important to pay attention to one’s oral care, and be wary of what could result from neglecting oral care.
At 1 Health Medical Centre, our dentists spend time discussing with patients’ the different problems and difficulties that can arise because of bad oral health. Depending on which treatment option works best for you, the right one will be chosen in accordance.
If you’ve been dealing with issues related to oral health including sensitivity, crooked teeth, gum problems, bad breath, and so forth, please contact 1 Health Medical Centre on the number +91 9562090606 to book an appointment. Our dental experts will carry out a thorough examination and will guide you on the next course of action that needs to be taken to correct your dental problem.