Bad Teeth: Causes and Treatment

Having bad teeth can be a big nuisance. Not only do they reduce your confidence, but they can also lead to serious dental issues if left untreated. Finding out what causes bad teeth is, thus, important for both your dental and overall health.

What is even more important than the causes of bad teeth is how you can treat them. From better oral hygiene and diet changes to visits to a cosmetic dentist, there are many things you can do to fix your bad teeth. Read on to find out.

 The Main Causes of Bad Teeth

Tooth decay is the most common cause of bad teeth. In most cases, it is caused by either cavities or other dental conditions. Tooth decay starts when plaque, a translucent coating made of bacteria and food particles, appears on your teeth. If you don’t clean it properly or on time, plaque can harden into a substance named tartar. No one except a dentist can remove tartar once it’s formed. 

The bacteria in the tartar slowly eats away at your teeth, and they turn any sugars you consume into acid, which only speeds up the process of decay. Then, the bacteria can reach the softer part of your tooth, underneath the enamel. That will cause pain and might badly damage your tooth or even cause tooth loss.

Bad Teeth Are a Serious Problem

Although they are rather common dental conditions, tooth decay, cavities, and rotten teeth are clearly serious issues. They are often the root of many other examples of dental issues. If left untreated, bad teeth can cause complications that interfere with your everyday life. Here are some of them:

 Pain

In its early stages, tooth decay does not cause pain. You can go for months without noticing cavities or plaque, at least when it comes to pain. But as soon as the bacteria penetrate the enamel and enter the softer tissue inside your tooth, you will feel pain. 

This pain can be sharp or dull, depending on the amount of damage and the position of the cavity. As the decay gets worse, the pain can get so severe it can make eating almost impossible. Painful and difficult chewing can then lead to weight loss and other nutrition problems. 

Tooth Abscess

In some cases, tooth decay can cause a tooth abscess to form on your tooth or near it. A tooth abscess is a tiny pocket filled with bacteria and pus. Put simply, it is a little bag of infection attached to your tooth or your gums. It can be quite painful, and if left unattended, it can cause serious and even life-threatening problems. If the abscess ruptures and the bacteria end up everywhere in your mouth, the infection will spread through your body, which can be dangerous.

Tooth abscesses usually form as a side effect of serious cases of cavities and tooth decay. Such abscesses usually lead to tooth loss as well, even if your dentist treats it on time. 

Broken Teeth and Tooth Loss

Tooth decay can cause parts of your tooth to break and fall out, leaving you with broken or chipped teeth. If the damage is too severe and the bacteria from the tartar penetrates your root canals, the tooth will most likely fall out. Both occurrences affect your appearance and your self-confidence and need to be taken care of before they affect your health as well.

Treatment for Bad Teeth

Which treatment for bad teeth is best for you will depend on the stage of tooth decay and the amount of damage it caused.

Diet Changes and Regular Oral Hygiene

If tooth decay is in its early stages, changing your diet and your hygiene habits should be rough to prevent it from spreading further. Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly will remove most of the plaque that forms on your teeth. That way, it will never even have a chance to form into tartar or damage your teeth. Apart from regular toothpaste, your dentist might suggest some fluoride-based mouthwash to help you stay on top of your cavities as well.

Since cavities and tooth decay are aided by sugary foods and drinks, avoiding these is a good choice. Foods like sweets, different condiments, and sauces, as well as drinks such as wine, sodas, and coffee, are generally bad for your teeth. If you stop consuming them, the risk of developing cavities will decrease, and you will be safer.

Visiting a Cosmetic Dentist

Sometimes, your teeth can get so badly damaged that your dentist has to take them out, or they fall out by themselves. In such cases, you need to consider more serious treatment options. Visiting a cosmetic dentist is one of them. 

A regular dentist takes care of your teeth and overall oral health. A cosmetic dentist, on the other hand, offers dental restoration treatments, which are necessary after everything else fails. These treatment options can help bring back the natural look of your teeth, as well as make you more confident. 

In most cases, people opt for cosmetic teeth to improve their appearance and get back their shiny smiles once more. Additionally, these treatments can improve the functionality of your teeth, especially if you had chewing problems caused by bad teeth. 

Removing anything rotten and diseased and replacing it with clean and beautiful cosmetic teeth is a good solution to bad teeth. It is also a permanent one, as cosmetic teeth usually don’t need to be replaced too many times, if at all. To ensure that, you need to pick a dentist with a good reputation and an even better track record. That way, you’ll be in good hands, and you’ll get your money’s worth.

In Conclusion

As you have read, bad teeth are a serious dental issue that requires a lot of care and appropriate treatment. Depending on the amount of tooth decay, you and your dentist can opt for either regular or cosmetic dental procedures. Whichever you choose, the important thing is that you’ll get your shiny smile back. That is, in the end, the most important thing.