Oral health refers to the physical well-being of the mouth, including the teeth, tongue, lips, gums, jawbone, face, and any other structures located within the oral cavity. These structures allow us to communicate, eat, drink, breathe, and speak, among other functions.
The most common diseases affecting oral health include cavities, periodontal disease, tooth loss due to dental caries, oral cancer, dry mouth, head and neck tumours, and temporomandibular joint disorder. Some patients consult their dental surgeons to help them with the pain that they are feeling and conduct a dental procedure to remove the tooth that causes such an issue.
Because cavities happen when bacteria get into your teeth and multiply, you should brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. And if you’re worried about your teeth, ask your dentist about getting them professionally cleaned or whitened every six months.
Moreover, dental patients may consider getting toothpaste with fluoride to promote oral hygiene. You can also brush your tongue after you brush your teeth, because you may not have noticed all the bad stuff hiding there.
There are several problems that a human being may encounter which will need the services of a dentist. It is important to be aware of the possible oral health issues that a patient may encounter to prevent further damage.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
One of the most common side effects of treatment for head and neck cancers is osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). ONJ occurs when dead or dying bone cells get trapped beneath the surface of the bones of the jaw.
Over time, the dead area enlarges, causing pain and infection. A patient may lose teeth. If you have had radiation therapy, chemotherapy, steroids, or other medications that cause bone loss, you may be at risk for developing osteonecrosis of the jaws.
Additionally, ONJ occurs when a medication targets the bone; this changes the chemical makeup of your bones. During this change, bacteria can grow in your jawbone and form an infection. If left untreated, the infection can cause painful sores in your mouth and jaw area.
Common Symptoms
ONJ looks like an area where the roots of teeth meet the bone. It may also be called bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaws (BONE), osteonecrosis of the jaw bone (ONJ), or avascular necrosis of the jawbone (AVN).
Symptoms can vary widely and can include areas of exposed bone in your jaw. If you have a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, or weight loss, then seek medical help immediately. Your doctor will examine you and tell you what steps need to be taken next.
Treatment
A mild form of oral cancer called mucositis can be treated with a simple mouth rinse. Severe forms of oral cancer can be treated using chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or both.
Furthermore, there are already tons of clinics that offer a wide range of services to help the patients feel okay. The prices of dental clinics may vary depending on the professional fee of the doctor and the materials that will be used in the procedure.
ONJ may not always be obvious on an x-ray. However, when exposed to any kind of trauma, the bone becomes porous because blood flow decreases. In addition, the bone cells begin to die.
When this happens, the gap between the bone and the roots of teeth can widen. As a result, bacteria can enter through the widened gaps and cause infection. If left untreated, the bone surrounding the roots collapses, and teeth start falling out.
Tooth Extraction
Have you ever experienced having a toothache? Or someone who is not fond of visiting his or her dentist regularly? There are numerous oral problems that many patients may encounter if they disregard their oral health. The most common is tooth extraction.
During an extraction procedure, the dentist removes the decayed, infected crown of your tooth, while keeping the root intact. Then, the dentist or oral surgeon drills away at the bone around the roots. Afterwards, he/she cleans out any remaining pulp and fills the area with a soft material called gutta-percha, and then places a cap over the space.
Finally, the patient takes pain medication and returns to normal routine life. It is important to consult a dentist whenever there are already early signs of pain to prevent any extraction and more costly expenses along the way.
Importance of Oral Hygiene
In today’s healthcare system, patients often ask their dentist about ways to preserve their remaining teeth. While tooth extraction is generally considered an unfortunate necessity, many dentists choose to use less invasive treatments at the first sign of trouble.
Dental adhesive, composite resin, or dental crown are all options that can help prevent further damage to your teeth and allow you to continue living life normally.
If you’re worried about your oral health, schedule an appointment with your local dentist to discuss your situation.