The teeth are quite sturdy parts of the body. Made largely of hardened minerals (mostly calcium) their layered structure makes them ideal for resisting many of the problems that they face such as chewing hard food and bacteria. However, even considering these advantages, time is the one thing teeth are not able to defeat. Even the mightiest mountains will be worn down by a gentle rain, given enough time, and so it is with the teeth. Continued exposure to bacteria, extremes of temperature, and force will cause damage that leads to dental conditions.
The most common dental condition is probably dental caries or cavities. These happen when plaque acid causes a breach in the outer layer of hard enamel. This allows bacteria to penetrate to the softer, more sensitive part of the tooth, which contains the dental nerve. This can cause an infection to take place which, if left unchecked, will destroy the dental nerve and kill the tooth, causing it to fall out. There are a number of treatments that can prevent this happening if carried out in time, which is why you should always see your South East London dentist as soon as possible if you have a sore tooth, it might just save it.
Other dental conditions include staining and discolouration, which can happen as the result of fluoridation, eating and drinking certain foods too often or because of lifestyle choices such as smoking. While this may not be all that detrimental to the health of the tooth, it will certainly make the teeth look rather unpleasant.
Gum disease is the other major dental health condition that affects many people in the UK, and even has links to heart disease. As with all dental complaints, the key to avoiding them is to look after your teeth and follow your dentist’s advice.
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