Common Oral Diseases

Oral health greatly influences a person’s general health and well-being. Therefore, you need to maintain good oral health by observing good oral practices such as brushing your teeth, eating the right food, and avoiding smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. If you don’t, you risk developing a common oral disease. These diseases include tooth decay or cavities, oral cancer, periodontal or gum disease, and herpes.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a disease that affects various parts of your mouth, including the pharynx, the back of your throat, and the oral cavity. Like other types of cancers, there are risk factors that increase your chances of developing oral cancer. They include tobacco use, pipe-smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, weakened body immunity, and exposing your lips to harmful sun rays.

Cavities

Tooth cavities or tooth decay can affect all age groups. They can occur when acids secreted by bacteria situated in the plaque accumulate around your teeth and break down your tooth enamel. This allows the bacteria to enter your teeth. Consuming carbohydrate-rich foods and drinks encourages the bacteria to secrete the acid, which demineralizes your tooth’s enamel. Fortunately, you can prevent cavity formation by brushing your teeth regularly.

Gum diseases

Gum disease arises from a lack of proper gum care. Essentially, when you do not take proper care of your gums, they may become inflamed or infected, leading to gum diseases. In addition to this, individuals with chronic illnesses such as arthritis, heart diseases, and diabetes can easily develop diseases.

Oral Herpes

Oral herpes is often mistaken for fever blisters and cold sores. However, it is an oral disease caused by the virus known as herpes simplex and it spreads through contact. When you are infected with oral herpes, you will develop painful sores in different parts of your mouth, including on the tongue, lips, inside the cheeks, and gums. You will also experience muscle aches and fever.

Always observe good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth and tongue, eating foods that are good for the teeth, and avoiding dental disease risk factors like smoking tobacco products.

There are many oral diseases that could potentially affect you if you do not keep up on your oral hygiene. Fortunately, most of these diseases can be managed, as well as treated. Therefore, you need to schedule regular dental check-ups with a dental professional to assess the condition of your oral health.

If you are experiencing an oral disease, you will require treatment. This is because an oral disease will not get better or be more manageable without the advice from a professional in oral health.

For more advice on your oral health, contact River Valley Smile Center at 479.646.0706 or visit our website. Check us out on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening in the office!