Braces
If you have a bad bite or your teeth are crooked or out of alignment, you may benefit from
braces.
Braces can help improve your smile and make your teeth straighter. They
can also improve your dental health and overall health
because untreated orthodontic problems can make it hard to bite and chew
and can interfere with eating. If you have a bad bite, you may also be
prone to
cavities or
gum disease because
it may be hard to clean your teeth. Braces come in many different
styles, including tooth-colored plastic braces or traditional metal
braces that come in a variety of colors. Removable clear retainers can
sometimes be used. Talk to your dentist to see what the best choice is
for you.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth,
also referred to as third molars, get their name by being the last
teeth to come in during young adulthood, the time of life when you gain
maturity or “wisdom.” The majority of people have most of their
permanent teeth by age 13. Your wisdom teeth should come into your mouth
between the ages of 17-21. Sometimes they do not have enough room to
come in normally or are in the wrong position to come straight up. When
that happens, your dentist may refer to them as impacted and they may
have to be removed.
Not everyone’s teeth develop on the same schedule. That’s why it’s
important to see your dentist regularly so he or she can monitor the
progress of your wisdom teeth. Every patient is unique, but in general,
wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is evidence of changes in
the mouth such as:
- pain
- infection
- cysts
- tumors
- damage to adjacent teeth
- gum disease
- tooth decay (if it is not possible or desirable to restore the tooth)
Your dentist or specialist may also recommend removing your wisdom
teeth to prevent problems or for others reasons, such as when removal is
part of getting braces, treating gums or other dental procedures.
Smoking
You know
smoking
is bad for you in general, so it should be no surprise that all forms
of tobacco are also harmful to your oral health. For one, they can cause
bad breath, but that’s only the beginning. Other possible oral health impacts include:
- stained teeth and tongue
- dulled sense of taste and smell
- slow healing after a tooth extraction or oral surgery
- difficulties in correcting cosmetic dental problems
- gum disease and tooth loss
- oral cancer
Quitting is the only way to decrease your risk of these and other
tobacco-related health problems. The addictive quality of nicotine,
which is found in cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, can make this
especially difficult. That’s why it’s important to have a plan and a
support network, people to help you stick to your plan. Write down your
reasons for quitting.
Bottom-line: a smoke-free environment is healthier for you and for
those around you. Make a plan to quit, stick to it and start living a
healthier life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse considers nicotine
to be the the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and
death in the U.S. For tips on quitting or how to help your child
quit, visit
Smokefree.gov.
Mouth Jewelry
Oral piercings or
tongue splitting may look cool, but they can be dangerous to your
health. That’s because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and
infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings. For instance,
your mouth and tongue could swell so much that you close off your airway
or you could possibly choke if part of the jewelry breaks off in your
mouth. In some cases, you could crack a tooth if you bite down too hard
on the piercing and repeated clicking of the jewelry against teeth can
also cause damage. An infected oral piercing can also lead to more
serious systemic infections, including hepatitis or endocarditis.
Meth Mouth
Meth Mouth,
a term for the damage caused by the use of the illegal and highly
addictive drug methamphetamine, is one of many devastating effects this
drug can have on users’
oral health.
Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that can
cause shortness of breath, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, permanent brain damage and
rampant tooth decay. Some users describe their teeth as “blackened,
stained, rotting, crumbling or falling apart.” Often, the teeth cannot
be salvaged and must be removed.
For more information, visit the
National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders arise
from a variety of complex physical, emotional and social issues. They
can also be devastating to your oral health. More than 10 million
Americans are affected by serious eating disorders such as anorexia,
bulimia and binge eating, according to the
National Eating Disorders Association.
These eating disorders can also affect a person’s oral health. Without
the proper nutrition, gums and other soft tissue inside the mouth may
bleed easily. The glands that produce saliva may swell and individuals
may experience chronic dry mouth. Throwing up frequently can affect
teeth too. That’s because when strong stomach acid repeatedly flows over
teeth, the tooth’s enamel can be lost to the point that the teeth
change in color, shape and length. The edges of teeth become thin and
break off easily. If you suffer from an eating disorder, it’s important
to seek counseling and talk to your health care provider.