There are a wide range of dental problems, some of which are more serious than others. These include:
- Abscess
- Bruxism
- Cleft palate
- Dental phobia
- Dry mouth syndrome
- Gum disease
- Gummy smile
- Halitosis
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Oral cancer
- Root canal problems
- Sensitive Teeth
- Sleep apnoea
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD)
- Tooth decay
- Trench mouth
Conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease are extremely common and affect a large number of the UK population.
More than 50% of adults have tooth decay.
Around 50% to 80% of children under 16 have tooth decay.
Gum disease is equally problematic.
More than half of UK adults have some form of gum disease, e.g. gingivitis.
It is less of a problem for children.
Gum disease is one of the major causes of tooth loss. It occurs in people who have the more serious version, ‘periodontitis,’ which affects deeper structures within the teeth, e.g., the periodontal ligament. Pockets form between the teeth and gums, which loosen the teeth, resulting in eventual loss. More on dental check-ups
Find out more in the gum disease section.
Many of these conditions are preventable. They are often the result of poor dental hygiene and/or a high sugar diet which damages the teeth, resulting in disease and decay.