Meagan Hollman
Most of us avoid the dentist’s office, though regular checkups with a dentist and his or her assistant, trained at a dental assisting college, are crucial to keep your mouth healthy and your teeth pearly. Keep the number of visits down to twice a year by learning about the most common oral health problems and how to prevent them.
Sweets, ice cream and hot drinks can cause pain or discomfort in people with hypersensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth can be easily treated by brushing daily with a toothpaste containing fluoride, which strengthens the enamel.
Tooth decay, or cavities, is the second most prevalent disease in the United States after the common cold. It’s caused by sugar-loving bacteria that produce acid which eats away tooth enamel. The best way to prevent cavities is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and pay a visit every now and then to a dentist and dental assistant trained at a Utah dental assisting college.
Canker sores will generally go away after a few weeks. However, if they persist longer than that, you can gently swish a solution of lukewarm saltwater and baking soda. If the pain is unmanageable, see a dentist, as this could be a sign of a larger problem, such as oral cancer.
Halitosis, aka bad breath, is a symptom of bacteria on the tongue, gum disease, cavities, dry mouth or oral cancer. Masking it with mints and mouth wash won’t make the problem of chronic bad breath go away. A dentist or dental assistant at a Utah dental assisting college will help you identify the real problem.
Oral cancer affects the mouth, lips and throat and can go unnoticed for years. It may reveal itself as a common canker or cold sore, or a patch of discolored tissue. Fortunately, if caught in its early stages it can be completely curable, which is why seeing a dentist at least twice a year is so important.
La caries es una de las enfermedades infecciosas más comunes del mundo industrializado. Casi todas las personas se han visto afectadas por ella al menos una vez en la vida.
