One of the most common regrets of adults is not putting enough care and effort into their teeth. They realize too late that they can have severe oral health problems as an adult. Many of these problems can be easily prevented if they had just taken the time to see their dentist or floss more.
Going to the dentist can be quite costly, and some insurances don’t even cover certain dental treatments. Luckily, you can easily prevent any future costs by investing in check-ups now. To give you an idea of what could happen otherwise, here are the most common oral health diseases you can get as an adult.
Gum Disease
This disease is an infection on your gums caused by poor oral hygiene. When you don’t brush your teeth or floss regularly, your gums start to recede or become more sensitive. It starts as bleeding when you brush your teeth, but it can start to worsen in time. Other signs of it are bad breath and louse teeth.
According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, over 47 percent of adults aged 30 and older have some form of gum disease. It usually starts as gingivitis and worsens if not treated. This problem is extremely easy to prevent, but a lot of people tend to ignore it. The best way to prevent it is just brushing your teeth twice a day, and seeing a dentist at least once a year.
Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth are when your third molars grow out but don’t have enough space. The result is that they tend to grow out weird. Usually, it ends up being crooked or sideways. While it is not a problem in itself, the issue lies when it starts to push against the teeth next to it.
In this case, you need to have it removed before it starts damaging the rest. Even when you’re older, teeth can still keep moving, and those impacted teeth can sometimes cause misalignment as you get older. Another problem with them is that they are often poorly cleaned because of how far back they are. This results in tooth decay in those teeth.
A lot of people only get their wisdom teeth removed when it starts hurting, but you can have impacted teeth even without a toothache. Sometimes, you will only realize that you have impacted teeth once you get an x-ray. Depending on how bad it gets, you will need to consult with an oral surgeon to know whether it can cause damage in the future or if it needs to be removed. These surgeons will then use special slicing and drilling tools to remove them.
Tooth Decay
Children are often chastised for cavities, but in fact, adults are just as guilty of these. Around 92 percent of adults aged between 20 to 63 years old have cavities in their permanent teeth, while 26 percent of them are untreated. Both higher and lower-income individuals have problems with tooth decay.
More than just poor hygiene, diet, and lifestyle is also a major cause of tooth decay. Excessive amounts of sugary drinks, junk food, candy, alcohol, and smoking also contribute to this. These items tend to stick to your teeth, and brushing your teeth may not always be enough. This is why adults are recommended to have teeth cleaned by dentists every six months.
If left untreated, tooth decay can cause some teeth to fall off prematurely. It would be a lot harder and more expensive to have implants done and maintained.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer in adults, and it affects over 53,000 adults in the United States this year. What is scary about oral cancer is that its symptoms often appear like other oral health problems. A few signs to watch out for are mouth sores that take too long to heal and unexplained loose teeth. When untreated, it can spread to other parts of your mouth and can be fatal.
Fortunately, it can be prevented when it is diagnosed early. This can also be avoided by reducing your use of tobacco and regularly seeing a dentist. Sexually transmitted diseases and heavy alcohol intake can also increase your chances of oral cancer. Aside from those though, it also depends on your genetics. Men are also twice as likely to get oral cancer than women as well.
Part of your physical health includes your mouth and teeth. Since they are so close to the brain, it can also result in some serious damages that can be both painful and deadly. Make sure that you are always brushing your teeth and visiting your personal dentist.
