You may have heard that you or someone you know has soft teeth. To find out what this term means and what can be done, read on.

What Are Soft Teeth?

Dental practices don't acknowledge soft teeth as a legitimate dental malady. It's not listed in any dental disease guideline. However, some people seem to have more problems with their teeth than others do and thus may use the term soft teeth to describe it. While the term may not be officially recognized, that doesn't mean that the tendency to have troublesome teeth does not cause people to suffer from poor dental health. In many cases, those who have so-called soft teeth may have the below problems, and more:

• More cavities.
• Headaches, toothaches, and sore gums.
• Sensitivity.
• Teeth that break or crack more easily.
• Gum diseases.

And more

What Causes this Problem?

In almost all cases, the problem begins early. Adults with permanent teeth do not suddenly develop soft teeth. That is because most issues with teeth begin when you are young. Once your permanent teeth come in (as a young teenager, usually), your mouth health is usually predetermined. Issues that can create soft teeth include:

• Severe infections in the mouth as a baby.
• Childhood malnutrition.
• Trauma to the mouth as a child.
• Childhood diseases that depleted nutrients from the teeth when they were developing.
• Maternal diseases, drugs, and trauma to the unborn baby.

Adult Problems

If you don't take care of your teeth, at any age, you can begin to have many problems that could mimic soft teeth. Many people think that pregnancy causes soft teeth. However, it's a myth that a growing baby leaches nutrients from the mother's teeth. Even when good oral hygiene is followed, adults can still fall victim to problems with their teeth. Medications, radiation therapy, smoking, alcoholism, and certain diseases can weaken the enamel, cause discolorations, and even cause teeth to loosen and fall out

Solutions to Consider

Speak to your dentist about your teeth. Find out if your issues began in childhood or they developed later. Either way, you can take control of the health of your teeth by following your dentist's advice about hygiene and regular visits. Pay attention to your eating habits as well by avoiding soft drinks, sugar, and carbs. Drink a lot of water, which helps to naturally keep your mouth free of problem-causing bacteria.

You don't have to live with problem teeth. Speak to a dentist and get your teeth on the right path to health.