Good dental hygiene is required through all stages of life. We celebrate the breaking of baby teeth when we have our children and encourage our children to brush and floss every day to maintain their oral health. Unfortunately, as we age, good dental hygiene can sometimes fall by the wayside. As a result, we are seeing more and more adult oral issues across the Australian population.

These are our top 5 most common dental problems amongst Australian adults.

1. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay continues to be the highest Australian oral problem amongst Aussie adults, and across the globe. Yet it is also one of the most avoidable. Following good oral practices such as cleaning and flossing daily, eating well, avoiding high sugar drinks and foods and regular trips to your dentist can help keep tooth decay at bay.
2. Gum disease

Following closely behind is gum disease – which leads to complete tooth loss. The risk of gum disease increases as we age and is also more prevalent in men. The leading cause for gum disease is plaque which can be avoided by good oral hygiene.
3. Infections

When gum disease is left untreated, the problem can reach further down into the soft centre of your tooth. From there, it can cause some serious problems such as a tooth abscess requiring root canal treatment. When dental issues get to this point, they become far more painful and costly to deal with.
4. Worn teeth

Acidic and sugary drinks, brushing too hard and grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel on your teeth and eventually lead to worn teeth. Simple lifestyle changes can help in the restoration of worn teeth. Or, if they require treatment, your dentist will recommend treatment to fix the issue.
5. Missing teeth

As we discussed earlier, missing teeth are a common problem amongst Australians and it stems from poor oral hygiene practices. Keeping on top of your dental health will ensure you keep your pearly whites in place for as long as possible!