Which Oral Infections Should You Be Wary Of?
Posted on: 22 May 2017
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A common assumption people have about oral care is that it is essential for the prevention of cavities. However, simply because cavities are the most widespread oral problem, it is not the only dental issues that you should be concerned about. There are a myriad of other oral infections that you could develop if you do not give your teeth the care and maintenance that they require. Knowing what the different infections, you are at risk of makes it easier for you to try to avoid them or spot them when you develop them. So which oral infections should you be wary of?
Gingivitis
Gum disease, referred to as gingivitis, is one of the most common oral infections that you can develop. In the beginning, some people may ignore this oral infection assuming that it will dissipate on its own. In reality, gingivitis that it left untreated will steadily develop into periodontitis, which is a severe oral infection that poses the risk of tooth loss. Some of the symptoms associated with gingivitis include bleeding gums and overall gum inflammation. The inflammation occurs when bacteria begins to breed in the crevices at your gum line, steadily eating away at the gum tissue. Luckily, if you seek dental attention for gingivitis, there is a high chance of fully recovering from it.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is an oral infection that is widespread because not many people detect it early, which gives the disease a chance to progress. Unlike gingivitis that will simply affect the gum tissue, periodontitis will affect your jawbone and the gum's supporting tissues. When the gum disease has advanced to periodontitis, it means the bacteria has made its way deep into the pockets of your teeth and is now eating its way through your enamel. Periodontitis that is not treated in time poses a high risk of tooth loss and deterioration of your jawbone.
Canker sores
This type of oral infection manifests on the surface of your inner cheeks, inner lips and gums as lesions. Typically, canker sores are not particularly painful. As such, they tend to be easy to ignore. However, since they cause an open sore in your mouth, they need to be treated to prevent the risk of bacteria breeding inside them. The specific reasons why canker sores come about is not determined, but it has been theorised that you are more susceptible to developing these dental problems if you are under a lot of stress or if your immune system is compromised.