{"id":794,"date":"2023-01-10T19:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T19:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/?p=794"},"modified":"2023-01-10T19:33:00","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T19:33:00","slug":"3-most-common-oral-health-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/10\/3-most-common-oral-health-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Most Common Oral Health Conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"close<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Our teeth are incredibly important to our quality of life, but they can often go underappreciated. That may be why so many people are suffering from oral health conditions to some extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, some of these conditions are more damaging than others, but each of them is worth taking a look at and addressing before they get worse. If you\u2019re interested, here are the most common oral health problems you\u2019re likely to find, and how to prevent<\/a> them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dental Caries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaries\u201d is the formal term for areas of tooth decay, and as you can imagine, they\u2019re incredibly common. Studies have shown that tooth decay is the most common chronic health condition there is among both children and adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that consume sugars and secrete acids. If you\u2019re lax with your dental hygiene, then food left over from meals can feed those bacteria, creating more of these acids and contributing to decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s estimated that nearly 50% of adults in the U.S. have gum disease to some extent, making it not only one of the most common oral health conditions, but among the most common diseases period. At low levels, the symptoms of gum disease are mild enough that you might not even know you have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, gum disease is also degenerative, meaning that it only gets worse with time. In advanced stages, this can entail bad breath, bleeding gums, and even tooth loss. Speaking of which\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edentulism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEdentulism\u201d is the technical term for complete tooth loss. This condition is usually the result of a lifelong history of poor oral health. The WHO estimates that 7% of people over 20 across the world suffer from edentulism, and that rate shoots up to 23% among people over 60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prevent Oral Health Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These oral health problems are incredibly common, and unfortunately, many of them can get worse with time. Here are some things you can do to prevent these conditions from taking hold in the first place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n