DENTAL DISEASES

COMMON DENTAL DISEASES – Carries, Causes, Treatment & Periodontal Diseases

Dental carries are the holes or cavities that are formed as acid corrodes enamel and eventually the dentine

This is caused by bacteria acting on the food left between teeth and on the cusp
Acids are formed that eventually corrode the enamel
The pulp cavity is eventually reached
A lot of pain is experienced then
The bacteria then infect the pulp cavity and the whole tooth decays

Treatment depends on the extent of the dental caries:
Extraction of Tooth
Filling – this involves replacing the dentine with amalgam, a mixture of hard elements e.g silver and tin
Root Canal Treatment – This involves surgery and reconstruction
It saves severely damaged teeth
The nerves in the root canal are surgically severed
The tooth is cleaned and filled up with amalgam

These are diseases of the gum
The gum becomes inflamed, and starts bleeding
Progression of the disease leads to infection of the fibres in the periodontal membranes and the tooth becomes loose
This condition is known as pyorrhoea
The diseases are caused by poor cleaning of the teeth
The accumulation of food particles leading to formation of plaque, lack of adequate vitamin A and C in the diet

Nutrition – by taking adequate balanced diet rich in vitamins A and C
Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria
Anti-inflamatory drugs are given
Antiseptic is prescribed to use in cleaning the mouth daily to prevent further proliferation of bacteria
The plaque is removed-drilled away – a procedure known as scaling

In order to maintain healthy teeth the following points should be observed:

A proper diet that includes calcium and vitamins, particularly vitamin D is essential
The diet should also contain very small quantities of fluorine to strengthen the enamel
Large quantities of fluorine are harmful
The enamel becomes brown, a condition known as dental flourosis
Chewing of hard fibrous foods like carrots and sugar cane to strengthen and cleanse the teeth
Proper use of teeth e.g. not using teeth to open bottles and cut thread
Regular and thorough brushing of teeth after meals
Dental floss can be used to clean between the teeth
Not eating sweets and sugary foods between meals
Regular visits to the dentist for check¬up
Washing the mouth with strong salt solution or with any other mouth wash with antiseptic properties