Everyone should visit the dentist twice a year for a basic dental health examination. This can help discover and effectively address most dental problems in their early stages. However, dental problems might arise unexpectedly. In this case, you’ll have to schedule a consultation before your six-month check-up.
Below are 6 clear signs that you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
1. Dental pain and swelling
Persistent discomfort or swelling in your teeth or gums might indicate serious dental problems. Pain and swelling of your gums can be a symptom of an advanced form of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by an infection. Untreated gum infection can spread on your jaw bone and lead to serious dental problems, including tooth loss.
If you experience dental pain and swelling, you should consult a dentist to treat infection and gum disease. Lasting dental pain is not normal, and you shouldn’t ignore it to preserve your dental health. Even if the discomfort eventually goes away, the underlying issue may persist.
2. Teeth sensitivity
Teeth sensitivity is probably the most common dental problem. It appears when the enamel covering your teeth becomes weaker. Enamel is a thick layer that covers your tooth and protects it from external damage. When the enamel becomes weaker, it exposes the inner layer of the tooth called dentin. Dentin is porous, allowing some drinks and food particles to penetrate deeper, causing unpleasant sensations.
The dentist can recommend treatment to strengthen your teeth’ enamel and reduce sensitivity. In most cases, proper diet and toothpaste with fluoride help strengthen the tooth enamel.
3. Gums bleeding and recession
Gum bleeding and recession are other common symptoms of gum disease. While pain signals an advanced form of gum disease, gum bleeding and recession may indicate that you have early gum disease. If your gums are receding and bleed when you brush your teeth, be sure to visit your dentist as soon as possible.
The doctor can conduct professional teeth cleaning to remove tartar and prescribe treatment. You may also try to improve the health of your gums with help of home remedies like oil pulling, saltwater rinsing, and baking soda teeth brushing.
4. Problems with dental work
Despite the steadiness and longevity of dental fillings, crowns, implants, and other dental work, they can lose over time. Anything from chewing your foods to bruxism can damage your dental work and lead to uncomfortable symptoms. If any of your dental work seems loose, crooked, or even out of place, contact your dentist as soon as possible. This can help you avoid serious complications and expensive repairs.
5. Chronic bad breath
Chronic bad breath is a common symptom of poor oral hygiene. But if you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, rinse your mouth with mouthwash, and don’t have bad habits, bad breath can be a symptom of dental problems. An unpleasant odor from your mouth can indicate both tooth decay and gum disease. If your bad breath persists despite proper dental hygiene, be sure to visit your dentist as soon as possible.
6. White or dark spots on your teeth
While most people think only dark spots on the teeth indicate dental problems, white spots may also be a symptom of tooth decay. White spots appear on your teeth when your body is trying to compensate for calcium loss in a particular area. Over time, white spots become dark, meaning the damage to your teeth becomes more severe and the bacteria gets deeper into the teeth.
Tooth decay is a serious dental problem that can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms and lower the quality of your life. Be sure to visit a dentist if you suspect you have tooth decay
