When it comes to helping people take care of their teeth and gums, Kopp Dental in Elmhurst is your neighborhood dentist that can handle even the toughest of cases including full mouth reconstruction and restoration procedures. Our prosthodontists and dentists on staff see thousands of patients a year and there are a number of common dental problems that we see most often.
5 Most Common Dental Health Issues
Problem number 1: Bad Breath
Medically known as halitosis, bad breath can be more than just annoying and very embarrassing- it can also be a sign of something more serious going on with your dental health. Sometimes the culprit is something easy to address like a food you are eating or poor dental hygiene. Unfortunately, for the vast majority of those suffering from bad breath on a regular basis, the culprit is easy to identify but a challenge to deal with.
In most cases, bacteria in the mouth causes bad breath and it is a sign of early stage periodontal disease. It can also indicate other problems such as infections, illness, and even cancer. Using mouth rinse in these situations will never cure the bad breath but will only create a mask for the underlying problem.
If you find yourself dealing with chronic bad breath on a regular basis, or you have bad breath that comes and goes regardless of your eating habits, your best option is to call Kopp Dental in Elmhurst for an in person consultation. It is important to determine what is causing your halitosis so you can start taking steps to deal with the real problem rather than just masking it temporarily. Kopp Dental can do a full check of your teeth and gums to help you get to the bottom of your bad breath concerns.
Problem number 2: Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is, believe it or not, the second most common disease seen in the United States! Only the common cold is more commonly seen in doctor’s offices. Everyone forgets to brush their teeth now and then which won’t cause much damage in the long run. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much more than a day or two of poor oral hygiene for problems to start. Without proper home care, plaque starts to build up on your teeth. The plaque is teaming with bacteria that cause decay by starting to eat away at your enamel. This progresses to the deep tissue of the tooth. Most people never feel the cavities when they first start to develop. The pain associated with cavities tends to only be noticed once the cavity becomes deep enough to approach the nerve of the tooth. Keeping on a regular maintenance schedule along with excellent oral hygiene at home will prevent most tooth decay. Sometimes this may not be sufficient to keep dental decay at bay. If a cavity does form and is diagnosed at an early stage a single filling can be done. Your dentist at Kopp Dental will remove the diseased tooth structure and fill it with a white tooth bonding material.
Many dental experts, including our dental team at Kopp Dental, recommend dental checkups every 6 months. If you have known dental problems then you may need to get a checkup every 3-4 months. If a cavity forms inside or around your tooth, the damaged tissue and the diseased portion of the tooth must be drilled out and filled in with tooth bonding material.
Problem number 3: Gum Disease
Known as periodontal disease, one of the most common dental problems many face at some point in their lives is gum disease. The two main stages of gum disease are known as gingivitis and periodontitis. Together these two potentially serious conditions currently affect over 80% of adults in the United States alone. Gum disease occurs when bacteria get into the soft tissue of the gums and infections set in. The damage can quickly spread through the gumline and damage the roots of the teeth and weaken the jaw bone that holds the teeth in place. Periodontal disease is not just the leading cause of tooth loss, but it’s also linked to heart attacks and strokes. A serious infection can spread from the teeth and gums to the bloodstream where it quickly travels throughout the body and can damage many of your organs including your heart!
For preventative care, the best thing you can do is keep all dental appointments and follow your dental team’s recommendations for care and treatments. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, the team at Kopp Dental can help you get back on track and preserve your dental health. Gum disease is among the most common dental problems we deal with and we have a specially designed a cleaning and treatment protocol that can help you fight back. It is often advised that you return every three to four months for checkups and cleanings to be sure the gum disease won’t return.
Problem number 4: Oral Cancer
Many people are surprised to learn that the Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that someone dies from oral cancer of some kind every hour? It is an extremely serious disease that not enough people take seriously. It can be caused by many factors, but the most common are using tobacco products and poor dental maintenance over time. Dental check ups are often the only way to catch warning signs early which is just another reason why you should always keep your dental appointments. Surprisingly, oral cancer is very preventable, but most people do not take the necessary steps to protect themselves against one of the common dental problems affecting our country today. Kopp Dental is proud to offer cancer screenings for all of our current patients and for new patients as well.
Oral cancer screenings are an important test that many people do not know about or ask about. During this exam, one of the things they are checking for is any sign of oral cancer. Often times early warning signs can be mistaken by the average person as something less serious- canker sores, bad breath, painful gums, and other issues that may not seem like a big deal at first. The experts at Kopp Dental can determine which treatment plan works for your individual needs.
Problem number 5: Mouth Sores
Most people have had mouth sores of some kind whether they are canker sores, cold sores, or places we have bit our cheek, tongue, or lips. They are not only painful but can sometimes even be embarrassing. Most of the time, mouth sores will fade away within a few weeks and all that is needed is some over the counter creams or ointments to help with the pain. However, if you develop mouth sores that last more than two weeks with no sign of fading, you need to get to your dentist as soon as possible! Some mouth sores happen due to an injury such as biting yourself while chewing food. Other mouth sores occur as a result of bacteria in the mouth or as a side effect of stress. It is important to know what likely caused your mouth sore so you know how to best help it heal.
If you have a mouth sore that’s lasted more than two weeks, make an appointment to see your dental team as soon as possible. Your dentist can make sure it isn’t something more serious, like early signs of cancer or the start of a bad infection. Mouth sores are one of the common dental problems we see here at Kopp Dental but they are not something to be taken lightly. You should always keep an eye on them and tell your dental team about any mouth sores that are not healing.
Contact Us for Dental Care Help In Elmhurst
If you are experiencing any of the above problems and have not seen a dentist, please schedule an appointment today. At Kopp Dental, we have helped many of our patients deal with these common dental problems and we can do the same for you! So contact us today for a one on one consultation with one of our dentists.