9 Common Dental Problems — Solutions from a Newport Beach Dentist

Whether you’re due for a routine checkup or dealing with a more urgent issue, dental problems are incredibly common and most concerns are treatable when caught early on. Our highly skilled dentists in Newport Beach delve into nine of the most frequent issues faced by patients of all ages, along with effective solutions to restore comfort and proper function.

Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, affects millions of people and is often more than just a social inconvenience. In many cases, persistent bad breath signals an underlying oral health issue. Common culprits include poor brushing habits, dry mouth, gum disease, or bacteria living on the tongue.

Solution: Improving your oral hygiene regimen and staying on top of your professional dental cleanings can help alleviate bad breath, as well as using a tongue scraper to remove the layers of bacteria often contributing to halitosis. If bad breath persists despite good hygiene, our friendly dentist in Newport Beach can evaluate your oral structures and check for deeper causes, such as gum disease or infections.

Gum Disease

While the early stages of gum disease (gingivitis) are characterized by mild redness, swelling, or bleeding gums, the condition can progress to problematic periodontitis when left untreated. Once a more advanced stage of gum disease is reached, the gums begin to pull away from the teeth and at-home remedies are no longer enough to get rid of harmful bacteria.

Solution: When gingivitis is observed, more consistent brushing, flossing, and cleaning the mouth may improve the condition. Early-stage gum disease can respond well to a professional deep cleaning or treatments like scaling and root planing. However, more advanced cases may require ongoing periodontal therapy or, in severe situations, surgical intervention. Catching gum disease early makes all the difference.

Underbite or Overbite

A misaligned bite doesn’t just compromise your smile, this malocclusion can lead to uneven tooth wear, jaw discomfort, and difficulty chewing, among other issues. An overbite occurs when the upper teeth extend too far over the lower teeth, while an underbite involves the opposite situation. Even as an adult, bite correction is very achievable with orthodontic solutions.

Solution: Traditional metal braces can be a reliable way to realign your bite, but Invisalign^® clear aligners often provide a comfortable, discreet, and effective treatment to straighten your smile without obtrusiveness, dietary limitations, or self-consciousness.

Deeply Discolored Teeth

Some tooth discoloration responds to whitening toothpaste or over-the-counter strips, but deeper staining — often caused by medications, tetracycline stains, fluorosis, root damage, or aging — may not be lifted with over-the-counter options. These intrinsic stains go beneath the enamel and require professional solutions.

Solution: After assessing your discoloration at Newport Beach Dental, our dental team may recommend professional in-office teeth whitening for surface stains, or cosmetic dentistry options like porcelain veneers or dental bonding for more stubborn discoloration. The right approach typically depends on the cause and extent of staining, as well as your goals for the results.

Wisdom Teeth

The third molars, or wisdom teeth, typically emerge in one’s late teens or early twenties. Since the mouth usually doesn’t have enough room to accommodate them, they frequently become impacted (meaning they grow in at an angle), get stuck beneath the gumline, or only partially erupt.

Solution: Not all wisdom teeth need removal, but impacted or problematic teeth may require extraction. Tooth extraction and wisdom teeth removal are routine procedures. Our team can help guide you through the right approach for your needs, using x-rays and other tools to monitor the development of wisdom teeth. Sedation dentistry can also be utilized to improve patient comfort and/or reduce anxiety during treatment, if desired.

Jaw Pain/Clicking or Popping Noises

If your jaw clicks when you chew, aches in the morning, or feels stiff and sore, you may be dealing with a very common condition known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, or TMD. TMJ disorder encompasses a range of jaw joint dysfunctions, which can stem from teeth grinding, stress, bite misalignments, or joint inflammation.

Solution: TMJ disorder treatment may involve conservative approaches, such as a custom night guard, anti-inflammatory medications, therapeutic BOTOX^® injections, or jaw exercises, to more involved therapies for chronic cases. Most people find significant relief without the need for surgery.

Avulsed (Knocked Out) Tooth

Whether caused by an accident or sports injury, many everyday activities can cause sudden tooth loss.

A knocked-out tooth can be very alarming, but it’s best not to panic. If you act quickly, your tooth may be saved with timely intervention.

Solution: If a tooth is knocked out, handle it by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently without scrubbing, and try to reinsert it into the socket. If that’s not possible, store it in milk or between your cheek and gum, and get to an emergency dentist immediately. Call ahead so our dental office can prepare for your treatment.

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Teeth grinding (bruxism) and clenching often occur during sleep, meaning many people don’t realize they’re grinding until their dentist notices worn enamel, or until they begin waking up with headaches and jaw soreness.

Solution: A custom-fitted night guard is the most common solution to bruxism, protecting your teeth from the pressure of grinding while you sleep. Stress management, reducing caffeine, and addressing underlying bite issues can also make a meaningful difference to decreasing uncomfortable symptoms.

Toothache

Tooth pain is one of the most common reasons why people make an urgent dental appointment. A toothache can signal anything from a cavity or cracked tooth to an infection or abscess, all of which may worsen without treatment.

Solution: Don’t wait it out. Over-the-counter pain relievers can provide temporary relief, but potential infections can spread to other parts of the body when left untreated. Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may involve a filling, dental crown, root canal, or in some cases, extraction. The sooner you’re seen, the better the outcome.

At Newport Beach Dental, our talented dental team approaches each dental concern with a gentle hand, prioritizing the comfort of each patient’s experience as much as the effectiveness of our personalized solutions. If you’re bothered by an issue in your teeth, gums, or mouth, talk to our friendly office team to schedule a consultation at our Newport Beach and Laguna Beach-area practice.

The original version of this blog was published on April 1, 2020.