Causes and symptoms of dental disease

October 18, 2023 Reading time ~ 4 min Number of reads: 1707

Dental diseases are a group of pathologies affecting the enamel and internal structure of the dental unit, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, gums, chewing muscles and bones of the jaw.

Most dental diseases are infectious in nature and develop one after another in the absence of necessary treatment. Despite the opinion that such pathologies are considered not dangerous for people because of the risk of developing serious consequences for the body, this is not true. Consequences with improper treatment or lack thereof, can be very serious, up to lethal outcome.

Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat, so it is important to have an idea of the causes and symptoms of dental diseases in order to identify them in time and avoid complications.

Causes of dental disease in humans

Diseases of the teeth and gums can appear both due to the impact of a single negative factor, and because of their complex. Most often the reasons for the development of dental pathologies are as follows:

• Insufficient oral hygiene or its complete absence. Improper brushing, ignoring professional oral hygiene leads to the accumulation of dental plaque, which then hardens and becomes a source of bacterial inflammation.
• Infectious diseases. Pathogens penetrate into the tissues through damaged teeth or with the bloodstream from an infected internal human organ.
• Lack of nutrients in the structure of the teeth and gums. Often results from an unbalanced diet.
• Excess of certain chemical elements in the body, such as fluoride.
• Taking certain medications, more often antibiotics (for example, tetracycline).
• Violation of hormonal balance and metabolism due to various circumstances.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Congenital anomalies of the teeth.
• Trauma to the teeth, gums, jaw.

Classification of dental diseases

The directory of dental diseases counts a huge number of pathologies. The most well-known are:

• Dental caries: the process of destruction of the structure of the dental unit due to external factors. Develops at any age and is characterized by both acute and chronic course. Symptoms: pain syndrome, carious spots, which then turn into cavities. In the absence of the necessary treatment, complications manifest themselves.
• Pulpitis. Inflammation of the inner part of the tooth: nerves and soft tissue. It is a complication of neglected caries. The main symptom is severe pain that occurs spontaneously, without connection with external influence. If pulpitis is not treated, it can lead to complete loss of the tooth and inflammation of the bone and periosteum.
• Tooth cyst. Is a complication of pulpitis. It is characterized by the appearance and growth of cystic tissue at the root of the tooth. Symptoms – pain syndrome, hyperemia of the gums.
• Periodontitis. The consequence of untreated pulpitis. Inflammation of mucous membranes and bone tissue outside the root of the tooth. In the acute course is characterized by severe pain, localized within a certain tooth, a feeling of mobility of the dental unit, breath odor, hyperemia.
• Anatomical pathologies: Adentia, congenital or acquired absence of teeth. Anomalies of individual dental units and of the dentition as a whole: curvature, dystopia, retention of teeth, overcomplete, too small or too large teeth. Improperly formed tooth enamel.
• Tooth trauma: chipped, cracked, fracturedteeth.

Most often, in the early stages of dental disease are asymptomatic, but as the pathology develops, pain and discomfort appear. If the first symptoms of the disease are detected, you should contact a dental clinic for qualified treatment.

Prevention of dental diseases

In order to prevent the development of diseases of teeth and gums, it is recommended to adhere to certain rules:

• Refusal from smoking. Nicotine contributes to vasoconstriction and worsens blood flow to the tooth tissues and deteriorates its nutrition.
• Proper nutrition and the use of vitamins.
• Brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste at least twice a day. Regular professional dental hygiene, at least once every six months.
• Professional check-ups with a dentist in order to detect dental diseases at early stages.

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