A healthy mouth is crucial not just to eating and speaking but to your overall health and well-being.

Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell if you have a dental problem until it is causing pain and discomfort. Educating yourself on common dental problems, their symptoms, and their treatments can help you act fast to fix this issue and keep your mouth healthy. It also doesn’t hurt to find an affordable dental insurance plan that encourages you to get your teeth checked by a dentist.

1. Tooth Decay

Bacteria in your mouth consume sugars and convert them into lactic acid, eroding the tooth’s enamel and leading to tooth decay.

Tooth decay can cause toothaches and, when eating, sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Untreated tooth decay can lead to tooth infection, which, if not addressed, can spread to other areas of the body. Tooth decay can also increase your risk of gum disease.

Tooth Decay Treatments

Here are some treatments for tooth decay:

• Fillings: The dentist removes decayed tooth tissue, cleans the site, and then fills the cavity with a filling material, such as a metal or resin.
• Root canals: This may be needed if decay leads to tooth infection. The dentist removes the infected tooth pulp and cleans the inside of the tooth.
• Crowns: These are artificial, tooth-shaped caps placed on decayed or weak teeth. They restore teeth’s look and function. Various materials may be used, varying in aesthetics, durability, and cost.

2. Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an infection of gum tissues resulting from plaque and bacteria buildup.

Gum disease progresses through several stages of increasing severity:

• Gingivitis: This causes red, puffy, sensitive gums. Brushing and flossing may cause gums to bleed. This is the easiest stage at which to reverse gum disease.
• Mild periodontitis: Bacteria make their way under the gums and impact the bones that support the teeth. This can lead to gum recession, exposing more sensitive portions of the teeth and creating pockets where bacteria build up.
• Moderate periodontitis: Bacteria erode the bones and soft tissues that keep teeth in place, potentially loosening the teeth and causing pain. Moderate periodontitis may also cause pain and bad breath. Pus can build at the site as well.
• Advanced periodontitis: Bone loss increases, loosening your teeth further and potentially causing the tooth to fall out.

Gum Disease Treatments

Gum disease isn’t fully curable beyond gingivitis, but you can stop its progress and manage the condition:

• Gingivitis: Adequate brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings can stop and potentially reverse gingivitis.
• Mild periodontitis: Scaling and root planing, also known as deep cleaning, can help. This involves cleaning off plaque deeper under the gumline, then smoothing out root surfaces to prevent bacteria from reattaching. This basic procedure may take multiple visits and requires local anesthesia.
• Moderate and advanced periodontitis: More serious periodontitis cases may require pocket reduction surgery. During this procedure, the periodontist makes an incision into the gums and removes buildup from areas other procedures can’t reach.

If gum disease causes gum tissue loss, your dentist could perform gum grafting to restore tissue. Similarly, they can perform a bone graft to restore bone loss.

Dental insurance that covers periodontal disease can help cover some of these costs, making restoring the health of your gums more affordable.

3. Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva.

Several things could cause dry mouth:

• Certain medications
• Specific health conditions
• Age
• Nerve damage
• Snoring and mouth breathing
• Tobacco and alcohol use
• Dehydration

Regardless of the cause, dry mouth can lead to several issues:

• Increased tooth decay risk
• Increased oral infection risk
• Gum disease
• Difficulty swallowing and speaking
• Mouth sores
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Digestion issues, since saliva helps break down food

Treatments

There are several options for managing and fixing xerostomia, depending on the cause:

• Drinking water
• Medications
• Saliva substitutes
• Sugarless candy, gum, or lozenge
• Humidifier

4. Tooth Crowding and Misalignment

Teeth can grow improperly, leading to crowding and misalignment.

Tooth crowding and misalignment can cause eating and speaking difficulties. It can also lead to excess wear on crowded teeth, causing tooth damage.

Plus, crowded teeth are harder to clean, facilitating bacteria buildup that could lead to tooth decay or infection.

Tooth Crowding and Misalignment Treatments

In most cases, orthodontic treatments can help solve tooth crowding. This generally involves devices such as braces or aligners to slowly shift the teeth into the proper position. Orthodontists may also create a retainer to keep teeth from shifting out of place if such a risk is present.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

This is a brief product overview only. Coverage may not be available in all states. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Plans and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact plans and riders for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For availability and costs, please contact your local Aflac agent/producer.

Aflac Coverage

Dental (81000 series): In Arkansas, Policies A81100AR–A81300AR. In Delaware, Policies A81100–A81300. In Idaho, Policies A81100ID–A81300ID. In New York, Policies NY81100–NY81300.In Oklahoma, Policies A81100OK–A81300OK. In Oregon, Policies A81100OR–A81300OR.In Pennsylvania, Policies A81100PA–A81300PA.In Texas, Policies A81100TX–A81300TX.In Virginia, Policies A81100VA–A81200VA.

Dental (82000 series): In Arkansas, Policies A82100RAR–A82400RAR. In Delaware, Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In New York, Policies NY82100–NY82400. In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK. In Oregon, Policies A82100ROR–A82400ROR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A82100RPAR–A82400RPAR. In Texas, Policies A82100RTX–A82400RTX. In Virginia, Policies A82100RVA–A82400RVA.

Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York:

NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.

Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.

Z2400910                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    EXP 10/25

Contact Information:
Senior PR & Corporate Communications

Contact: Angie Blackmar,

Phone Number:706-392-2097

Email:ablackmar2@aflac.com