As we age, our enamel naturally wears down and our once cavity-free teeth may start to have a lot problems. Despite our best efforts, we may all have dental issues as some point in our life. Here are some common dental issues for adults that you may experience at some point in your life.

Tooth Sensitivity

If you notice that hot or cold foods are starting to make you wince, you may be experiencing tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity occurs if you have cavities (tooth decay), gum disease, worn tooth enamel, an exposed tooth root (exposed when gums recede), or even fractured teeth. You can treat sensitive teeth by visiting your dentist and using a prescription desensitizing toothpaste. To prevent tooth sensitivity from worsening, you need to make sure you are following good oral habits such as brushing and flossing.

Gum Disease

Bad oral hygiene habits will catch up to you. Gum disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums that will lead to loosened teeth, tooth decay, and eventually tooth loss. Some tell-tale signs of gum disease include swollen, bleeding gums, or bleeding when flossing. If you don’t floss daily, you may notice your gums bleeding. This isn’t a sign that you should floss less frequently. Rather, it is a sign you need to ramp up your flossing. Floss daily and eventually your gums will bleed less, and less bleeding is a sign of healthy gums.

Missing Teeth

The average adult between 20 and 64 will have three or more missing or decayed teeth. If you are missing a tooth or several teeth, you need to either wear dentures, bridges, or implants to prevent “drifting”, which is the mouth’s tendency to shift the teeth towards to the gap in your teeth. Talk to Dr. Vann about how you can best take care of your oral health if you have missing teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health, call Vann Family Dental today for an appointment.