As life gets busier, our oral hygiene habits can tend to slip. In fact, oral hygiene is declining in the modern day, causing more and more dental problems than ever before.

Luckily, there are ways of preventing almost every dental problem from occurring in the first place. Once you know how to prevent common dental issues, you can ensure that you’ll have healthier, stronger teeth for longer.

Here are common dental problems and you can avoid them happening to you:

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems we face. Tooth decay can lead to cavities and if not caught in time, it can lead to the need for crowns, tooth removal or dental implants. You can avoid tooth decay by doing the following:

• Brush, floss and brush some more: The more you clean your teeth the less likely you are to end up with plaque build up that leads to tooth decay. Brush your teeth in the morning and night and floss at least daily.
• Get those teeth checked: Regular check-ups at your dentist will help you avoid tooth decay through prevention measure before it’s too late.
• Drink tap water: Filtered, bottled water often doesn’t contain fluoride, so try to drink tap water to avoid tooth decay.
• Avoid too much sugar: It’s well known that sugar is one of the biggest contributors to tooth decay so avoid sugar if you can.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a common type of gum disease and if left untreated it can lead to a more serious type of gum disease, periodontitis, which can have numerous effects on your general health.

Gum disease occurs when there is an increase of bacterial growth and due to other health factors. Avoid gingivitis by:

• Brushing twice daily: Keep up the oral health routine mentioned above by brushing and flossing regularly.
• Avoid cigarettes and tobacco: Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco significantly increase the chance of gum disease so avoid them if you can.
• Eat well and stock up on dairy: Eating foods that maintain strong teeth and bones are essential for avoiding gum disease and the numerous tooth problems that come with it.

Tooth Infection

A tooth infection can be extremely painful and dangerous. Infections in the mouth can also spread to the rest of your body and make you unwell. To avoid a tooth infection, try to:
• Always drink tap water: The fluoride in tap water will protect your teeth from possible infection
• Use a dentist-approved mouthwash or use salt water to rinse: Salt water mouth wash can be just as effective if not more so than store-bought mouthwashes for avoiding infection.

At Titirangi Dental, we deliver excellent options for your oral care. Our attentive and educated team are here to make sure you are receiving the best care possible for your teeth. For all your teeth and gum needs, contact Titirangi Dental to make your appointment today. Alternatively, you can come and visit us in Auckland West.