Your mouth is a place where bacteria can thrive if you don’t take care of it. You could suffer from quite a few different oral conditions or diseases. Many of these simply come from not practicing proper oral hygiene. Here are three of the most common oral health problems you may have.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a common type of gum disease characterized by redness, swelling of the gums, and possibly bleeding. Even though the condition is easy to prevent and/or treat, half of Americans age 30 or older have gingivitis. The good news is that it’s usually reversible if treated promptly.
Gingivitis is mainly caused by bad oral hygiene. If you have a mild case of gingivitis, you may be able to treat it at home. Use antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash, and be sure to brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time. If the symptoms don’t clear up within a few weeks, or if symptoms get worse (pain, more blood, gums separating from teeth, etc.) it’s time to see a dentist.
Gum Boils
A gum boil is a bump on the gums that has turned into an abscess. They usually appear red, are swollen, and may be accompanied by some pain. Gum boils occur when bacteria gets under the gum tissue and accumulates. Boils on gums are often caused by many things. Gum disease is a major contributor, but there are other causes that aren’t necessarily from bad oral hygiene. For example, poorly fitted dentures can rub against gums and can cause gum boils.
It is not recommended that you treat a gum boil at home. It may look harmless, but it can spread infection, especially if the pus touches other areas of your mouth. You can do some at-home treatment to manage the pain, but gum boils should only be removed by professionals.
Halitosis
Halitosis is quite simply really bad breath. It’s usually caused by bad oral hygiene, leading to a build-up of bacteria in the mouth. It can also be caused by dehydration and/or dry mouth. About 25 percent of people suffer from halitosis.
The most common treatment of halitosis is to begin practicing great oral hygiene. Doing this can help the condition to clear up. If it doesn’t clear up on its own, then you’ll probably need to visit the dentist.
All of these conditions are mainly caused by poor oral hygiene. This means that they are easily preventable. Fortunately, they are also easily reversible. Simply start or continue keeping your mouth clean by brushing and flossing regularly to have a happy and healthy mouth.
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