Dental diseases can lead to muscle strain

Over the past 10 to 15 years there have been many advancements in dentistry. Today its focus is on three main areas:

• Prevention of dental diseases.
• Cosmetic dentistry to improve one’s appearance.
• Dental orthopaedics to improve teeth alignment and function as misalignment and lack of proper function of teeth can sometimes contribute to headaches, neck aches and even sleep problems.

Most dental problems do not have symptoms in the early stages and when the symptoms arrive at an advanced stage of disease, they often cause problems in all three of the above areas.

Tartar or calculus accumulates on teeth when plaque is not brushed away. The calculus then becomes almost impossible to remove with a toothbrush and begins to attract even more plaque and calculus.

This leads to gum disease or gingivitis or a more advanced gum disease known as periodontitis. In periodontitis, harmful bacteria accumulate deep within the gums, producing toxins.

These toxins lead to destruction of the bone supporting the tooth.

The entire process is, for the most part, completely painless and may only result in shaky teeth.

However when the teeth have become noticeably shaky, most of the supporting bone has already been destroyed.

The toxins can also enter the blood stream and cause effects in other areas of the body. Studies have shown that periodontitis has an effect on the control of diabetes, is associated with cardiovascular disease and premature or low birth weight delivery.

The loss of bone support in the teeth leads to teeth drifting and causes spaces to appear between the teeth. An unattractive smile can lead to quick perceptions about a person related to his or her health, social status, financial success and intellect.

When teeth drift during periodontitis, the functional capacity of the tooth is greatly reduced.

The teeth will not be able to take the same bite force that it could previously. This load is then transferred to a neighbouring tooth.

There is a lack of balance in the bite and this can lead to strain and fatigue of the jaw muscles, which in turn can cause facial pain, headaches, neck aches and postural problems.

Most dental diseases are easily treatable at an early stage. With modern technology, dental treatment can also be a comfortable experience. Visit your dentist regularly to prevent dental diseases from affecting your lifestyle.