What are the most common oral health problems?
The most common oral health problems are cavities and gum disease. Dental cavities Everyone is at risk for getting cavities throughout life. By the time most people are adults, 85 percent of people will have had a cavity! Why? You naturally have bacteria (germs) in your mouth. The bacteria mix with your saliva and bits of food in your mouth to form a coating (dental plaque) that sticks to your teeth. There are acids in the plaque that wear away the teeth. These acids can get inside the teeth and create holes in the teeth, or cavities. Gum diseases Gum disease is caused by infection or plaque around your teeth and is a common cause of tooth loss after age 35. The first stage and most common type of gum disease is gingivitis (jin-ji-vie-tus). Gingivitis irritates the gums and causes them to bleed and swell. Gum diseases are more often seen as people age, with most people showing signs of them by their mid-30s.
Dental Cavities Everyone is at risk for getting cavities throughout life. By the time most people reach the age of 21, 85% of them will have at least one cavity in their mouth. This happens because you naturally have bacteria (germs) in your mouth. The bacteria mix with your saliva and bits of food in your mouth to form a coating (dental plaque) that sticks to your teeth. There are acids in the plaque that wear away the teeth. These acids can get inside the teeth and create holes in the teeth, or cavities. Gum diseases Gum disease is caused by infection or plaque around your teeth and is a common cause of tooth loss after age 35. The first stage and most common type of gum disease is gingivitis (jin-ji-vie-tus). Gingivitis irritates the gums and causes them to bleed and swell. Gum diseases are more often seen as people age, with most people showing signs of them by their mid-30s. Periodontitis (pear-ee-o-don-tie-tus) is a more serious type of gum disease that, if left untreated, gets w
