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Common Dental Problems in Cottonwood, Arizona

At Arizona Smile Designers, we feel it’s important to educate our patients about the common dental problems associated with dentistry and orthodontics. Although the problems listed below may not be life threatening, they can cause severe discomfort and greatly impact your quality of life. Fortunately, many of these problems are easily prevented through good brushing and flossing as well as regular visits to the dentist. Our family dentists will work hard with you to prevent these common problems and ensure you receive the highest quality dental care.

Tooth decay is a preventable disease caused by acids, formed by large amounts of starches and sugars that eat away tooth enamel. Consuming foods that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates including candy, soft drinks, and fruit juices, leave deposits on your teeth. These deposits interact with bacteria and create a substance known as plaque. Over time the buildup of plaque forms the acids that damage the mineral structure of your teeth.

To prevent further damage from occurring, it may be necessary to fill the tooth with a variety of fillings, enabling the tooth to return to a healthy state. Circumstances may arise however, when damage is so severe that a crown must be placed to make the tooth much stronger and protect it from further damage. Our Cottonwood dentistry will discuss the most appropriate options with you if tooth decay is present.

If you find that your teeth ache or become irritated following the consumption of hot or cold foods, you may have sensitive teeth. In time, your gums may begin to recede and your teeth may expose their nerve ending residing inside the tooth. With this comes such discomfort that breathing cold air can be quite painful. If you have sensitive teeth, use a soft bristled toothbrush and desensitized toothpaste to reduce your discomfort. If the issue continues to persist, contact our family dentist in Cottonwood.

Gum disease develops as a result of poor oral hygiene and is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth. If left untreated, gum disease may lead to the bleeding or swelling of the gums as well as the loss of teeth and bone damage. Although gum disease can be very serious, it is easily preventable through daily brushing and flossing. Some common symptoms of early onset gum disease include bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. If you are experiencing such symptoms, contact our family dentistry immediately.

No one likes to have bad breath and no one likes to be around someone with bad breath. Luckily, brushing and flossing twice a day will remove the food particles resting on and between the teeth causing the nasty odor. Although bad breath seems like a minor problem, it may be a sign of gum disease or other dental problems. If you are concerned about your bad breath, do not hesitate to contact our Cottonwood dentist.

Canker sores are small, irritating sores that may occur anywhere in the mouth with a white or gray base surrounded by a red border. Using mouthwashes on a consistent basis may significantly reduce the duration and likelihood of these sores appearing.

In orthodontics, there are several forms in which a bad bite may occur, including, overbites, underbites, crowding and spacing. Under normal circumstances, a bad bite may be corrected with braces or Invisalign aligners. If left untreated over a long period of time, surgery may be required to rectify the damage done to the teeth and jaw.

Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment With Arizona Smile Designers!

While we hope we didn’t scare you, we do hope that this page has inspired you to focus on your oral hygiene and come in and visit us for your regular check-ups and cleanings. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our family dentists in Cottonwood. To schedule your next appointment, request a consultation online or contact our Cottonwood office directly. We look forward to hearing from you soon!