What are bad teeth or ugly teeth?
“Bad teeth” is not a particular disease but is a condition which arises when dental health is not taken care of well. “Bad teeth” can be referred to as periodontitis or gum infection, chronic inflammation of the tissue and structures around the teeth or decay, damage and loss of teeth mainly due to lack of oral hygiene etc. The ignorance of tooth health can lead to tooth decay, tooth infection,gum disease, etc and several other problems such as heart disease, respiratory problems, mouth ulcers leading to oral cancer or esophageal cancer, etc.
Bad teeth are basically unhealthy teeth which can be described as ugly teeth, gum related issues in teeth, infected teeth, rotten teeth, decayed teeth, impacted teeth, etc. The unappealing or ugly appearance is also a matter of concern for people. In some cases, new artificially made teeth set or veneers can be used as new teeth to get rid of the bad teeth. In some cases, excess damage in roots and gums make treatment and fixing of the bad teeth difficult.
See also: Diagnosis of Dental Caries
Problems caused by ugly teeth
Bad oral health can directly affect the health of a person. It also destroys the facial appearance of a person. Ugly teeth may result in teeth damage, grinded teeth, problems in chewing food, extreme sensitivity in teeth, temporomandibular joint disorders which can result in strain on the jaws, teeth and facial muscles, etc.
The main problem that occurs due to ugly teeth is related to the digestive system because either the patient cannot eat properly, or if at all he or she is able to eat, he or she is still not able to chew or grind or digest the food properly. Bad teeth not only affect the health of a person but also disturb the looks of the person. A bad teeth smile is never a pleasant view and also depicts lack of oral dental hygiene. Bad teeth often lead to bad breath which makes it uncomfortable for a person to stand in gatherings.
Major health issues that occur due to bad teeth or unhealthy teeth or bad oral health are:
- Cardiovascular Disease: To say that oral problems directly cause heart issues might not be completely true, but it is seen that there is an association between the two. Periodontal disease is sometimes related to the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. The bacteria which cause teeth infection, periodontal disease or gum infection can, sometimes, enter into the blood stream and cause atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is hardening of arteries by forming plaque inside them and results in hindrance during blood flow or leads to blockage. This increases the risk of infection in the lining of heart, hyper-tension, stroke or heart attack.
- Respiratory Infections: The first symptom of bad oral health, which relate to respiratory problems, is bad breath. This indicates the beginning of lung infections and other respiratory issues. The bacteria present in the mouth, during infection in tooth or gums, can travel to the lungs and result in diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, etc. Tooth infection, when enters the blood stream, also affects the respiratory system (especially lungs).
- Diabetes: It is observed that periodontal (gum) diseases or teeth infections can make diabetes more chronic and difficult to control. Also, diabetic people are more prone to suffer from gum infections which cannot be treated easily and even tend to increase the blood sugar levels in a person. Oral health problems which are more frequently observed in diabetes are dry mouth problems such as ulcers, cavities, etc., or fungal infections in mouth (thrush) etc.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is loss of bone density, which leads to weakening of bones and increase of risk of fractures. Bad teeth do not cause osteoporosis, but, during mouth infections, bacteria present in mouth tend to de-mineralize the teeth or breakdown the connective tissues and bones. These tissues and bones function to maintain the grip of the teeth and keep them attached to the surface. This often ultimately results in tooth loss due to the decrease in bone mineral density.
- Cancer: Oral or mouth cancer is a common complication which occurs due to bad teeth and worsening of oral health. Bad oral practices such as smoking, consuming tobacco, etc often lead to ulcers, ugly teeth, abscessed tooth, bad teeth, etc. Bad teeth condition also increases the risk of other cancers such as pancreatic cancer, blood cancer, kidney cancer, etc.
- Kidney Disease: Kidney infections arise in people who suffer with bad teeth or other dental problems. People with oral diseases have weak immunity, and weak bones. Oral problems lead to blockage of arteries which also affects the kidney function. Patients on hemodialysis are more prone to infections due to bad teeth problems.
- Digestive problems: Teeth and saliva play an important role in the digestion process. Chewing of food is the first step towards digestion. While chewing, the food mixes with saliva which has enzymes to break down the food. Saliva also has an important property and the enzymes in it neutralize bacterial infections in the mouth. If there is any infection in the mouth, the digestion process is disturbed. Sometimes, bad teeth or oral diseases cause a reduction in the production of saliva, irritation or inflammation in digestive tract, etc.
- Birth complications or pregnancy issues: Hormonal changes which occur during pregnancy can cause dental problems. Bad teeth or infection in gums can affect your complete body mechanism. These dental problems can cause early birth of a child in some cases, or sometimes the baby is born underweight, and sometimes the baby might lack minerals such as calcium in teeth. Gum infections increase the risk of complications in both mother and child.
Signs and symptoms of bad teeth
The appearance i.e. the shape, structure or color of teeth changes if the dental health deteriorates. Discoloration of teeth and bad breath are supposed to be the first signs to mark the beginning of bad teeth. Other issues that relate to bad teeth are:
- Bad breath stays for a very long time
- Redness and tenderness in gums
- Teeth sensitivity
- Swelling and bleeding in gums
- Pain while chewing food
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Neck glands also swell
- Strain on jaw line and face muscles
- Pain in head
- Open, draining (pus) sores on the gums
- Slowly, the teeth start clipping, cracking and breaking. Read about loose teeth.
- Fever can also occur if the infection increases
- Dry mouth (decrease in saliva production)
- Tooth decay(cavity) or tooth infections are sometimes very difficult to treat.
Causes of bad teeth
- Excess consumption of carbohydrates i.e. sugar (sucrose, fructose, etc) can result in tooth decay or cavity formation.
- Lack of nutrients such as calcium and excess use of acidic drinks such as soda results in tooth decay and deterioration of enamel.
- Bacterial attack can form acids which can result in plaque formation (yellowish coat) and teeth erosion.
- Smoking or consumption of tobacco or alcohol also increases the chances of bad teeth.
- Tooth grinding can also be a cause of bad teeth. It is observed that some people have a habit of mouth crushing or grinding their teeth without even realizing it.
- Dry mouth can lead to tooth infections as lack of saliva prevents its antibacterial action.
- Lack of oral hygiene.
- In very few cases, genes and age might be a reason which increases the chance of getting bad teeth. Often, genes play a role in dental health and dental issues. Some dental problems that can be inherited are such as deep tooth crevices and enamel issues that may result in tooth decay or cavity formation. Increasing age can result in different dental issues such as deterioration in gum condition, damage to teeth or formation of cavity, dry mouth, etc. Old age people, also, cannot take proper care of their oral hygiene which also leads to bad teeth in older people.
Fixing Ugly Teeth: Treatment and Prevention
At advanced stages, the bad teeth condition can be detected through dental X-rays. Early stage of bad teeth cannot be easily detected because tooth problems grow slowly. Pain in gums, discoloration or formation of dark spots on teeth and cavity formation are initial signs of bad teeth. Some preventive measures and treatments that may be used in fixing bad teeth are:
- Diet should be monitored. Carbohydrates and acidic foods should strictly be avoided. Fiber food, calcium and minerals, etc are best recommended.
- Using fluoride toothpaste twice a day while brushing teeth can help fix your ugly teeth. Using dental floss and mouth wash are recommended as it helps to remove plaque and bad breath.
- Alcohol and smoking should be avoided
- Antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines can be prescribed during pain or infection. Antibiotics are also given to boost immunity.
- Pus in gums can be extracted out to remove infection.
- Amalgam filling and dental crowning are prescribed to fix bad teeth during tooth decay.
- Composites or dental veneers help in maintaining the smile and looks of a person in case of damaged or decayed tooth.
- In case of severe infections, root canal treatment is recommended to save the tooth and eliminate the infection.
- Sometimes, the infected tooth needs to be exfoliated or removed due to its worsened condition so that it may not affect the nearby teeth.
Dental hygiene should not be ignored. Regular dental checkups are important as your dental health affects your overall health.
Meno mabaya ni nini? "Meno mabaya" si ugonjwa maalum lakini ni hali ambayo hutokea wakati afya ya meno haijashughulikiwa vizuri. "Meno mabaya" yanaweza kutajwa kama "parodontitis" au maambukizi ya taya, uvimbe wa muda mrefu wa tishu na miundo karibu na meno au kuoza, uharibifu na upotezaji wa meno hasa kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa usafi wa mdomo nk. Kutokujua afya ya meno kunaweza kusababisha kuoza kwa meno, maambukizi ya meno, ugonjwa wa nywele, na matatizo mengine kama vile ugonjwa wa moyo, matatizo ya kupumua, vidonda vya mdomo vinavyoongoza kwa saratani ya mdomo au saratani ya esophagus. Meno mabaya ni meno yasiyo na afya ambayo yanaweza kuelezwa kama meno mabaya, masuala yanayohusiana na gum katika meno, meno yaliyoambukizwa, meno yaliyoharibika, meno yaliyoharibika, meno yaliyoathiriwa, nk. Sura isiyovutia au mbaya pia ni jambo la kuwahangaisha watu. Katika visa fulani, meno mapya yaliyofanyizwa kwa njia ya bandia au veneers yaweza kutumiwa kama meno mapya ili kuondoa meno mabaya. Katika visa fulani, uharibifu mwingi katika mizizi na taya hufanya matibabu na kurekebisha meno mabaya kuwa magumu. Pia angalia: Utambuzi wa Caries ya Meno Matatizo yanayosababishwa na meno mabaya Afya mbaya ya mdomo inaweza kuathiri moja kwa moja afya ya mtu. Pia huharibu sura ya uso wa mtu. Meno mabaya yanaweza kusababisha uharibifu wa meno, meno yaliyopondwa, matatizo katika kutafuna chakula, unyeti mkubwa katika meno, matatizo ya pamoja ya temporomandibular ambayo yanaweza kusababisha mkazo kwenye taya, meno na misuli ya uso, nk. Matatizo ya msingi yanayotokea kutokana na meno mabaya yanahusiana na mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula kwa sababu mgonjwa hawezi kula vizuri au ikiwa anaweza kula, bado hawezi kutafuna au kutafuna chakula vizuri. Meno mabaya huathiri afya ya mtu na pia huchafua sura yake. Tabasamu mbaya ya meno si mandhari nzuri na pia huonyesha ukosefu wa usafi wa meno ya mdomo. Meno mabaya mara nyingi husababisha pumzi mbaya ambayo hufanya iwe vigumu kwa mtu kusimama katika makusanyiko. Matatizo makubwa ya afya yanayotokea kutokana na meno mabaya au afya mbaya ya mdomo ni: - Ugonjwa wa moyo na mishipa ya damu: Kusema kwamba matatizo ya mdomo husababisha moja kwa moja matatizo ya moyo inaweza kuwa si kweli kabisa, lakini inaonekana kwamba kuna uhusiano kati ya mbili. Maradhi ya meno wakati mwingine huhusianishwa na hatari ya ugonjwa wa mishipa ya damu na kiharusi. Bakteria zinazosababisha maambukizi ya meno, ugonjwa wa periodontal au maambukizi ya gum inaweza, wakati mwingine, kuingia katika mtiririko wa damu na kusababisha atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis ni ugumu wa mishipa ya damu kwa kuunda plaque ndani yao na matokeo katika kizuizi wakati wa mtiririko wa damu au inaongoza kwa blockage. Hii huongeza hatari ya maambukizo katika utando wa moyo, mkazo wa juu, kiharusi au mshtuko wa moyo. - Maambukizo ya njia za kupumua: Dalili ya kwanza ya afya mbaya ya mdomo, ambayo inahusiana na matatizo ya njia za kupumua, ni pumzi mbaya. Hii inaonyesha mwanzo wa maambukizo ya mapafu na matatizo mengine ya kupumua. Bakteria zilizopo kinywani wakati wa maambukizi ya meno au ya meno yaweza kusafiri hadi mapafu na kusababisha magonjwa kama vile bronchitis, nimonia, emfysema, na mengineyo. Maambukizo ya meno, yanapoingia katika mtiririko wa damu, huathiri pia mfumo wa kupumua (hasa mapafu). -: Inaonekana kwamba magonjwa ya periodontal (gum) au maambukizo ya meno yanaweza kufanya ugonjwa wa kisukari kuwa wa kudumu na mgumu kudhibiti. Pia, watu wenye kisukari wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuambukizwa maambukizi ya nywele ambayo hayawezi kutibiwa kwa urahisi na hata huongeza viwango vya sukari ya damu katika mtu. Matatizo ya afya ya mdomo ambayo huonekana mara nyingi katika ugonjwa wa kisukari ni matatizo ya kinywa kavu kama vile vidonda, cavities, nk, au maambukizi ya kuvu katika mdomo (thrush) nk. - Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis ni kupoteza wiani wa mifupa, ambayo husababisha udhaifu wa mifupa na ongezeko la hatari ya kuvunjika. Meno mabaya hayasababishi osteoporosis, lakini wakati wa maambukizo ya mdomo, bakteria zilizopo kinywani huwa na tabia ya kuondoa madini kwenye meno au kuvunja tishu na mifupa ya kuunganisha. Viungo na mifupa hiyo hutegemeza utulivu wa meno na kuyaweka kwenye uso. Mara nyingi hilo huongoza kwenye kupoteza meno kwa sababu ya kupungua kwa uzito wa madini ya mifupa. - Saratani: Saratani ya mdomo ni tatizo la kawaida linalotokea kutokana na meno mabaya na kuzorota kwa afya ya mdomo. Mazoea mabaya ya mdomo kama vile kuvuta sigara, kutumia tumbaku, nk mara nyingi husababisha vidonda, meno mabaya, meno yaliyofichika, meno mabaya, nk. Hali mbaya ya meno pia huongeza hatari ya saratani nyingine kama vile saratani ya kongosho, saratani ya damu, saratani ya figo, nk. - Ugonjwa wa figo: Maambukizo ya figo hutokea kwa watu wanaosumbuliwa na meno mabaya au matatizo mengine ya meno. Watu walio na magonjwa ya mdomo wana kinga dhaifu, na mifupa dhaifu. Matatizo ya mdomo husababisha kufungwa kwa mishipa ambayo pia huathiri kazi ya figo. Wagonjwa wanaotumia damu ya damu huwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kupatwa na maambukizo kwa sababu ya matatizo ya meno. - Matatizo ya kumeng'enya chakula: Meno na umajimaji hutimiza fungu muhimu katika mchakato wa kumeng'enya chakula. Kutafuna chakula ni hatua ya kwanza kuelekea kumeng'enya chakula. Wakati wa kutafuna, chakula huchanganyika na mate ambayo ina enzymes kuvunja chakula. Saliva pia ina mali muhimu na enzymes ndani yake neutralize maambukizo ya bakteria katika kinywa. Ikiwa kuna maambukizo yoyote kinywani, utaratibu wa kumeng'enya chakula huharibika. Wakati mwingine, meno mabaya au magonjwa ya mdomo husababisha kupungua kwa uzalishaji wa mate, kuchochea au uvimbe katika mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula, nk. - Matatizo ya kuzaliwa au matatizo ya ujauzito: Mabadiliko ya homoni yanayotokea wakati wa ujauzito yanaweza kusababisha matatizo ya meno. Meno mabaya au maambukizo ya taya yanaweza kuathiri mfumo wako wote wa mwili. Matatizo haya ya meno yanaweza kusababisha kuzaliwa mapema kwa mtoto katika baadhi ya kesi, au wakati mwingine mtoto anazaliwa chini ya uzito, na wakati mwingine mtoto anaweza kukosa madini kama vile kalsiamu katika meno. Maambukizo ya taya huongeza hatari ya matatizo kwa mama na mtoto. Ishara na dalili za meno mabaya: Mfano, umbo, rangi na umbo la meno huanza kubadilika wakati afya ya meno inapozorota. Kufifia kwa meno na harufu mbaya ya mdomo ni dalili za kwanza za kuharibika kwa meno. Matatizo mengine yanayohusiana na meno mabaya ni: - Harufu ya mdomo hukaa kwa muda mrefu sana - Uvuvi na uchungu katika meno - Hisia ya meno - Uvimbe na kutokwa na damu katika meno - Maumivu wakati wa kutafuna chakula - Ladha kali kinywani - Gland za shingo pia huvimba - Mfumo wa taya na misuli ya uso - Maumivu ya kichwa - Maumivu ya wazi, ya kuondoa (pus) kwenye meno - Polepole, meno huanza kukata, kuvunjika na kuvunjika. Soma kuhusu meno yaliyovunjika. - Homa pia inaweza kutokea kama maambukizo huongezeka - Kifo cha mdomo (kupungua kwa uzalishaji wa mate) - Uharibifu wa meno (cavity) au maambukizi ya meno wakati mwingine ni vigumu sana kutibu. Sababu za meno mabaya - Matumizi ya kupita kiasi ya wanga yaani sukari (sucrose, fructose, nk) inaweza kusababisha kuoza kwa meno au kuunda cavity. - Ukosefu wa virutubisho kama vile kalsiamu na matumizi ya kupita kiasi ya vinywaji vyenye asidi kama vile soda husababisha kuoza kwa meno na uharibifu wa enamel. - Mashambulizi ya bakteria yanaweza kuunda asidi ambayo inaweza kusababisha malezi ya plaque (kanzu ya manjano) na mmomonyoko wa meno. - Kuvuta sigareti au kunywa tumbaku au kileo pia huongeza uwezekano wa meno kuharibika. - Kusaga meno kunaweza pia kusababisha meno mabaya. Watu wengi wana tabia ya kupiga au kupiga meno bila hata kujua. - Ukame wa kinywa unaweza kusababisha maambukizo ya meno kwa kuwa ukosefu wa mate huzuia utendaji wake wa kupambana na bakteria. - Ukosefu wa usafi wa mdomo. - Katika visa vichache sana, jeni na umri waweza kuwa sababu inayoongeza uwezekano wa kupata meno mabaya. Mara nyingi, chembe za urithi huchangia afya ya meno na matatizo ya meno. Matatizo ya meno ambayo yanaweza kurithiwa ni kama vile nyufa za meno na matatizo ya enamel ambayo yanaweza kusababisha kuoza kwa meno au kuunda mashimo. Kuongezeka kwa umri kunaweza kusababisha matatizo mbalimbali ya meno kama vile kuharibika kwa hali ya taya, uharibifu wa meno au kuundwa kwa mashimo, kinywa kavu, na kadhalika. Watu wazee pia hawawezi kutunza vizuri usafi wa mdomo wao, ambayo pia husababisha meno mabaya kwa wazee. Kuondoa meno mabaya: Matibabu na Kuzuia Katika hatua za juu, hali mbaya ya meno yaweza kugunduliwa kupitia uchunguzi wa X-ray ya meno. Hatua ya mapema ya meno mabaya haiwezi kugunduliwa kwa urahisi kwa sababu matatizo ya meno hukua polepole. Maumivu ya meno, mabadiliko ya rangi au kuundwa kwa madoa meusi kwenye meno na kuundwa kwa mashimo ni dalili za kwanza za meno mabaya. Baadhi ya hatua za kuzuia na matibabu ambayo yanaweza kutumiwa katika kurekebisha meno mabaya ni: - Lishe inapaswa kufuatiliwa. Karbohydrate na vyakula vyenye asidi vinapaswa kuepukwa kabisa. Chakula chenye nyuzi, kalsiamu na madini, nk vinapendekezwa zaidi. - Kutumia dawa ya meno yenye fluoridi mara mbili kwa siku unaposhughulikia meno yako kunaweza kukusaidia kurekebisha meno yako mabaya. Matumizi ya kitambaa cha meno na kuosha kinywa hupendekezwa kwa sababu husaidia kuondoa bamba na pumzi mbaya. - Kunywa pombe na kuvuta sigara kunapaswa kuepukwa - Dawa za kuua viini na dawa zisizo na dawa za kuagiza zinaweza kuagizwa wakati wa maumivu au maambukizo. Dawa za kuua viini hutolewa pia ili kuimarisha kinga. - Pusi katika nywele inaweza kutolewa nje ili kuondoa maambukizo. - Kujaza amalgamu na kufunika meno kwa matawi huagizwa kurekebisha meno mabaya wakati wa kuoza kwa meno. - Composites au veneers meno kusaidia katika kudumisha tabasamu na inaonekana ya mtu katika kesi ya meno kuharibiwa au kuharibika. - Katika kesi ya maambukizo makali, matibabu ya mfereji wa mizizi inapendekezwa kuokoa jino na kuondoa maambukizo. Wakati mwingine, jino lenye maambukizo linahitaji kuondolewa au kuondolewa kwa sababu ya hali yake iliyozorota ili isiathiri meno ya karibu. Usafi wa meno haupaswi kupuuzwa. Uchunguzi wa meno mara kwa mara ni muhimu kwa sababu afya ya meno yako huathiri afya yako kwa ujumla.