When it comes to maintaining your health and physical appearance, there are a few things as important as protecting your teeth. Oral health is a fundamental part of our overall health. Skipping dental checkups or pushing dental exams to a later date, despite concerning signs, can lead to severe dental complications.
If you’re worried about your oral health, it is recommended to schedule exams for your teeth so that a dentist can assess your dental condition. It’s a very important preventive measure in order to maintain your oral health. In addition, it can be helpful to learn more about signs and symptoms that indicate a problem. Here are four signs that you need to visit a dentist as soon as possible.
1. Toothache
It is astounding how many people ignore this obvious warning sign. Tooth pain never occurs randomly, but uncovering the underlying cause can be challenging. An abscess, cavity, broken tooth, or damaged filing are some examples of dental issues accompanied by persistent toothache. Only your dentist can determine what’s behind the pain. The worst-case scenario is an infected root which will require antibiotics.
Don’t wait at home for the pain to subside. The pain is likely to get worse with each passing day, especially if you have an infection. Look for a local dentist immediately. Are you in Sandy, Utah? A quick search for “dentist sandy utah” will help you find a reliable professional who cares about your wellbeing and has the right technology to provide a pleasant dental experience.
2. Sensitivity
Experiencing teeth sensitivity is not uncommon. It can happen if you consume drinks or foods that are either too hot or too cold. Healthy teeth are naturally sensitive to temperature. When sensitivity occurs as a response to stimuli, you have nothing to worry about. However, if it’s something you experience very often and the sensation lasts for a long time, consider scheduling a dental exam.
Persistent tooth sensitivity can lead to tooth decay or gum disease, so never ignore this warning sign.
3. Bad Breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, is another sign that you need to visit your dentist. Using gum, mints, or mouthwashes to fight bad breath is not always a good idea because you’re only masking the problem instead of fixing it. In the long-term, bad breath can kill your confidence. Besides the associated unpleasantness, halitosis is truly something to worry about because it can be the result of an infection of the nose, sinuses, throat, or mouth.
Halitosis can also be a symptom of oral cancer, diabetes, or gastric reflux.
4. Bleeding After Brushing or Flossing
Regularly seeing blood on your toothbrush or dental floss is not normal. Bleeding after brushing or flossing is one of the most worrying signs of dental problems because it is associated with periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease.
Periodontal disease is scary because it is an infection of the gums, which are the tissues that hold your teeth in place. Because it affects the gums, this disease can lead to tooth loss. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for protecting your teeth and reversing the damage. How long has it been since your last dental appointment? If you haven’t been to the dentist in the past six months, schedule a visit as soon as possible because not every dental problem shows symptoms.
