Ignoring oral health problems can lead to a range of costly complications. The good news is that intuition and some common sense can help you determine when to see the dentist.
Regular dentist visits are key to a healthy mouth and jaw, but ups anSo keepwns can interrupt even the best oral hygiene habits. Keep an eye out for these ten signs you need to see a dentist so you can get treatment before it’s too late.
Pain or Discomfort
Pain is a common sign that something is wrong with your mouth. It can be caused by various problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, and even dental injuries.
You don’t need to live with dental pain; you should see a dentist as soon as possible to correct the cause. Ignoring pain often worsens the problem and requires more invasive procedures.
A sharp tooth pain could indicate that a cavity has formed or a larger issue, such as an abscessed tooth, is developing. You should seek medical attention immediately, especially if it’s accompanied by swelling or redness around the affected area.
This type of pain indicates that an infection may affect the tooth or root, requiring urgent dental care to prevent serious complications from developing. Ignoring such a problem can lead to severe pain and even death.
Another common sign of an oral health problem is sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages. It can be caused by various issues, including a cracked or chipped tooth, a filling that needs to be replaced, or an infected tooth root.
In addition, some people have persistent headaches associated with teeth grinding, also called bruxism. Seeing a dentist fit them with a custom mouthguard can help to relieve these headaches and prevent further damage to their teeth and jaw.
Although most people know that they should visit the dentist twice a year, there are times when an extra visit is necessary. It is particularly true for those who suffer from certain oral health conditions.
Many people think that discomfort is the same as pain. Some of the most commonly used definitions of discomfort include things such as “mild pain,” “non-painful transition point,” and “a feeling of aching.”
While these are all accurate descriptions of discomfort, the literature does not clearly distinguish between pain and discomfort. Therefore, it is problematic for clinicians and patients because it can be challenging to assess the level of discomfort a patient is experiencing.
Mouth Sores
If you notice a painful sore inside your mouth, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention. These can be caused by infection, injury or oral cancer.
The most common mouth sores are cold and canker sores (also called “fever blisters”). Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are viral infections typically spread by close contact and occur on the lips or around the mouth.
Canker sores are inflammation of the soft tissues that line the mouth. These sores often appear on the tongue, cheeks, inside the lips or throat and may ooze fluid. They usually heal on their own within a few days, but they may recur in some people.
Some people with recurring cold sores are at risk for oral cancer, such as herpes simplex virus infection (HSV). The sores may be more irritated than those that occur for the first time, and the blisters may become raised or hard.
If you are diagnosed with HSV or other infections, such as herpes zoster, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help eliminate the infection. These can be given in tablet form or as a liquid.
Another infection that can cause mouth sores is primary herpetic gingivostomatitis, which is highly contagious and a leading cause of ulcers in the mouth. This infection causes fever, headaches and pain in swallowing. Yellow fluid-filled sores develop and then burst.
It’s important to see your dentist North Shore if you have any of the symptoms of herpetic gingivostomatitis: fever, irritability, and swelling of lymph glands. You should also avoid sharing food, utensils and other objects with anyone with this infection to prevent spreading it to others.
Your doctor can also prescribe a special ointment for the sores until they clear up. The medication will reduce inflammation and relieve pain but is unlikely to cure the infection.
Mouth ulcers are a common problem that an infection, injury or oral cancer can cause. If you have any of these signs, visiting your dentist as soon as possible is important.
Swollen or Bleeding Gums
You must see a dentist immediately if your gums feel swollen, irritated or bleeding. It could be a sign of an infection or gum disease that must be treated before it worsens.
Swollen gums are a common symptom of gingivitis, a condition that involves inflammation of the gums. It is highly preventable with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits.
Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup that can lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth loss if left untreated. Your general dentist will be able to determine the cause of your swollen gums by asking you questions about your symptoms and performing tests such as dental X-rays or blood tests.
Your dentist will also want to know if you are pregnant, are taking any medications that thin the blood or have a history of bleeding disorders. In addition to gingivitis, gums can bleed because of other conditions that affect your body’s ability to fight bacteria, such as diabetes, leukemia or a vitamin deficiency.
It would be best to remember that brushing and flossing twice daily is a good way to keep your teeth healthy. You can also supplement vitamins B and C, folic acid and calcium to promote stronger teeth and healthier gums.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is important, as this helps stimulate saliva production, weakening disease-causing bacteria in your mouth. It can also help remove food particles trapped between teeth and gums, leading to plaque buildup and gum disease.
In some cases, your dentist will recommend a surgical procedure called scaling and root planing, where they scrape diseased gums, plaque, and tartar on the roots of the teeth to encourage healing. Scaling and root planing can effectively prevent gum disease and reduce bleeding.
Swollen or bleeding gums may also indicate gum disease, leading to a serious infection in the gums and bone. In extreme cases, an abscess can form in the gum pocket where the gum tissue has broken down, resulting in throbbing pain, swelling and fever. The infection can spread to other parts of the body, resulting in sepsis, which is fatal.
Bad Taste or Odour
Everyone has bad taste in their mouth occasionally, but if it is becoming chronic, it could indicate something is wrong. It may be due to advanced tooth decay, gum disease or any other oral health issue that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
You also need to see a dentist if you have bad breath or have an odour in your mouth that doesn’t seem to go away. It could be a sign of gum disease, infection or even diabetes.
In some people, a bad smell in their mouth is a symptom of parosmia, an illness that causes the olfactory receptor cells in your nose to mutate and no longer smell properly. This condition can make things once sweet, pleasant or savoury, like bananas or a pizza, smell revolting or rotting.
This condition is usually very mild and can resolve independently in a few months, but if it becomes persistent or goes on for more than a few weeks, you will want to see your dentist. Your dentist will be able to pinpoint the cause of the problem and help you with an appropriate treatment plan.
Another sign of a problem with your mouth is if you have a sudden sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks. You might feel a tingling sensation in your mouth that isn’t normal, or you could even experience a sharp pain when you bite down on something.
It’s normal to have a slight sensitivity to temperature as you age and teeth wear out, but it can become very serious if you suddenly start to feel pain when you bite or chew. It is a sign of an infection or advanced decay and should be taken seriously.
Many people put off seeing a dentist until something happens and it is too late, but ignoring dental issues is not a good idea. They can worsen and cause significant damage to your smile if not treated early.
Many people have a busy schedule that keeps them from keeping up with their dental visits. Often, these issues go unnoticed until they become more serious, but you can save yourself from many headaches and expenses by getting to your dentist in time to catch problems before they get out of hand.