When it comes to your oral health, we hope you never have any pains or problems. Good preventive care will help you always feel your best! But even with the best habits, dental problems do happen. In that case, oral pathology is the science and medicine that helps diagnose and treat whatever is making you ache. If you think you have oral disease, don’t be embarrassed, but get help as soon as possible.
What is Oral Pathology?
Sometimes things go wrong, even in the healthiest people. If you have pain, bleeding, or unusual symptoms in your mouth, oral pathology helps us find the answers you need.
According to the American Dental Association: “Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.” In other words, oral pathology is the science that understands the causes and effects of these diseases. Common practices include clinical examinations, lab testing, and taking the whole body health and chemistry into consideration.
Pathology is important because if you have a certain problem, we want to know exactly what it is so that we can offer the right treatment. For example, viruses and bacteria are completely different kinds of organisms. Both can make you sick, but in order to get the proper treatment, we want to know what exactly is causing the problem.
For example, let’s say at your last checkup, Dr. Dan McKay noticed your gums bled more than usual and have started to recede. These are early warning signs of gingivitis and gum disease. But why now? Your gums have been healthy for your whole life. After a brief discussion, we rule out any dietary, hygiene or lifestyle changes. But you are taking a new medication – a medication that is known to cause dry mouth, a common risk factor for gum disease. Aha! And there we have it. Oral pathology has done it again!
Oral pathology takes into consideration your personal health background to consider what existing medical conditions might be affecting you specifically. This is why it’s a great idea to have a good relationship with your Seattle dentist that includes sharing any and all health problems and medications – even if you think they don’t have anything to do with your mouth. Your oral health and your overall health go hand-in-hand!
Oral Diseases
According to the World Health Organization: “Risk factors for oral diseases include an unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, poor oral hygiene, and social determinants.” Any of these combined with your personal risk factors can make you and your mouth unhealthy.
The main categories of oral diseases are:
- Pain: Any number of problems can cause pain in your mouth, jaw, and neck.
- Infections: Can be caused by fungus, bacteria, or viruses.
- Cancer: Warning signs include a discolored tongue or gums, open wounds, or lumps in your mouth or throat.
- Cavities: Called dental caries, lead to tooth decay and other complications.
- Gum Disease: A common but treatable infection and inflammation of the gums.
- Tooth Loss: Many oral diseases can cause tooth loss. Your Seattle dentist can treat the problem and also talk with you about tooth replacement options.
Anything that prevents you from comfortably speaking, smiling, chewing, and swallowing is an oral problem. While accidents and injuries aren’t diseases, but they can certainly harm your oral health.
A healthy mouth is key for a healthy body and a happy life. The best way to protect your oral health is through good oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle habits. This includes:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes
- Flossing or cleaning between your teeth once every day
- Seeing the dentist regularly, usually two times per year
- Eating a healthy diet and avoiding/limiting smoking, sugar, and alcohol
- Drinking lots of water and getting good sleep
- Understanding how your overall health affects your oral health
If you’re experiencing any oral health problems and are wondering why we would love to help you find answers. Contact McKay Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry today to make an appointment if you have any concerns about your oral health!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
