Dental and Oral Health Risks in Adults

As an adult, you may tend to think that your teeth are no longer prone to cavities because you believe that adult teeth are hard enough to resist decay and other problems. If you think like this, you cannot be more wrong. There are many dental and oral health risks that adults face. And these risks are not only serious but they can be life threatening in certain scenarios. So, it is crucial for adults to take care of their oral and dental health. Having that said, a few oral and dental health risks are worth mentioning in this regard.

Periodontal Disease

In certain cases, periodontal disease can be more dangerous as compared to cavities. If you are over 35, you need to make sure that you are not at the risk of getting a gum disease because it can lead you to lose your teeth. Gum disease can develop when you ignore proper brushing and flossing your teeth on daily basis. This carelessness can result in building up of plaque on the teeth and around gum line. This plaque is the breeding ground of bacteria. This bacterial presence can further result in irritation on the gums as bacteria release an acid which can also eat away the tooth enamel. The irritation in gums leads to detachment between gums and the roots of teeth. As a result, pockets are created under the gum line. These pockets are the places where bacteria can live and infect the entire area. While initial stage of gum disease, gingivitis, can be treated without the use of any invasive means of treatment, advanced stage, also known as periodontitis, mainly requires surgical treatment and that too in a rare scenario when your tooth can be saved.

Oral cancer

Adults over the age of 40 are at great risk of oral cancer, according to a survey by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The major reasons are usually tobacco and alcohol consumption.

Dental Fillings Break Down

If you have got a dental filling, you have to keep in mind that it is going to last for 8 – 10 years. After that, you are going to need to get the replacement of dental fillings. The major problem with expired dental fillings is that they either break down or lose hold of the teeth they are attached to. As a result, bacteria find their way into the inner layers of the teeth. When the tooth pulp gets infection due to bacterial infections, you might need to get root canal treatment.

Preventive care is the key

All the risks mentioned above are real for adults. The best way is to avoid those risks. In this scenario, sticking to preventive dental care is your best bet. You need to make sure that you are taking good care of your dental and oral hygiene. Moreover, you will need to visit your dentist twice in every year to get your oral cavity fully screened.