When to know you need a Dentist?

Good oral health translates to overall good health. Dental problems like cavities or gum disease can cause you pain, bad breath, and impair your ability to eat properly. Poor dental hygiene even leads to problems that are bigger than the ones mentioned above. It can have a profoundly negative effect on other parts of your body including your heart. 

According to some studies, it is found that the bacteria in gum disease can travel to the heart and cause health issues like heart disease, clogged arteries, or even stroke. Gum infections can also adversely affect blood sugar in diabetic patients as diabetes already reduces the body’s resistance to infection. Additionally, periodontitis, gum infection are linked to premature births and low birth weight in pregnant women and painful mouth sores are common in HIV patients. Hence, dental emergencies should not be taken lightly. 

By practicing good dental hygiene, you can prevent all these dental problems and thus health issues caused by them. Hence, most people know the importance of visiting a dentist at least twice a year. This helps them to monitor and treat their oral issues when they are minor. Whereas some people avoid trips to the dentist unless the pain is severe. If you don’t regularly visit a dentist then taking a look at the services signs listed below will help you indicate that it’s time to visit a dentist. 

1. Your gums are Irritated, inflamed, red, or bleeding

If you notice that your gums are red, inflamed, or bleeding while brushing then either you are brushing too aggressively or it can be an early sign of gum disease. Well, occasional bleeding is usually nothing to worry about. But if you bleed constantly then it could be a sign of a more serious issue.

There are several factors such as your brushing or flossing technique, smoking, medication, or nutrition that can influence the state of your gums. If you don't properly remove the bacteria by brushing or flossing, it will build up with time. This will not only build plaque on your teeth but will ultimately lead to swollen, red, or bleeding gums. This infection, bacteria, and plaque can build below the gum line, hence you will need extra attention to treat it. With this also look for other signs like redness, swelling, and loss of teeth, and don’t hesitate to visit your dentist in such cases.

2. You have frequent dry mouth

A frequent dry mouth is a cause of concern. You might know that saliva is an important lubricating factor in our mouth. It helps to neutralize acids, digest food, and also influence the sense of taste. So, an insufficient amount of saliva can block all these benefits. Moreover, It contains proteins that help in combating the cavity process. So, when your mouth stops producing saliva then you become susceptible to infection. Without saliva, you are at a much higher risk of quickly getting cavities that can grow big faster. 

Dry mouth results due to a side effect of medications taken for other issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. But it can also be one of the major symptoms of an autoimmune disease termed Sjogren’s syndrome that affects the glands responsible for making moisture. Reaching out to a dentist becomes mandatory in such cases to identify the underlying cause of your dry mouth and begin treatment according to the solutions.

3. You have a bad breath

Bad breath can be too embarrassing. It may be usually caused after a garlicky meal or a cup of coffee. But if it is persistent even after brushing or flossing then it could be a sign of an underlying disease. It may be a result of an infection like dental cavity, gum disease, or other medical conditions like diabetes, acid reflux, and even cancer.

 As bad breath can be caused by serious health issues like these, don’t forget to visit a dentist to rule out the possibility of all measure issues and determine the source that is causing it. 

4. Your tooth is aching

Toothache is the most obvious reason for visiting a dentist. If you ever had a toothache before, you have a clear idea of how miserable they can be. There are basically many common causes of pain in a tooth-like decay or cavities, a crack or fracture, failing fillings or restorations, inflamed gums, or teeth grinding. 

If you experience any pain while eating, or any sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks, then healthcare digital marketing services will suggest you see a dentist as soon as possible. Because sharp tooth pains are often signs of deeper problems and if left untreated they can only get worse with time. You may be prescribed an antibiotic to ease the pain of the infection initially. But a complete treatment will be necessary to prevent further infection and pain. Approaching the dentist in time will help you solve the problem early and avoid further pain or damage to your teeth. 

5. You have swollen jaws and constant headaches

It is not just the teeth issues that need oral emergencies even jaw issues should be of major concern. Rather you should be on high alert when it comes to jaw issues or feel any changes in the way it functions. Because constant jaw pain and headaches are often an indicator for a condition pertaining to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or surrounding facial muscles. TMJ is a hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skull. So, if your jaw is locked, opened, or closed visit the dentist immediately. You will be recommended exercises, stress relief tactics, or even devices to wear at night to ease symptoms. 

A cavity can also be triggering jaw pain. If left untreated the bacteria from the cavity can travel to the roots causing jaw pain which will eventually lead to an abscessed tooth. So, make an appointment and see a professional get the help you need. 

6. You have extremely sensitive teeth

Some people naturally have tooth sensitivity while they eat hot, cold, or spicy foods. They usually think that tooth sensitivity is not a major issue to worry about. But our teeth can be hypersensitive when their protective layer called enamel is worn down or damaged. So, a sharp pain arises when temperature travels into the tooth because the nerve tissue inside the tooth becomes exposed and unprotected.

Other causes of tooth sensitivity include tooth decay and fractured teeth. Gum recession that exposes the dentin which covers the root surface also causes sensitivity. This is due to the changes in tiny channels or microscopic tubules that transmit pain to the nerve. Even inflammation of nerve tissue in the tooth due to extreme tooth grinding can lead to sensitivity. 

A dentist can help you identify the main cause for your sensitive teeth and even guide you to improve them.

7. You have canker sores and tiny bumps

Everyone does have a mouth sore once in a while mainly due to some sort of irritant. Canker sores are actually tiny ulcers that show up as white sores on the tongue, inner cheek, gums, or roof of the mouth. They usually clear up in seven to fourteen days on their own if you keep the area around them clean. But if they don’t heal or stick around or recur often then it could be a sign of a severe issue. Canker sores can appear due to a number of factors responsible for this such as stress, food allergies, hormonal shifts, or immunity issues. 

If you have canker sores that last more than a week, you should immediately visit a dentist to determine their cause. Moreover, even color changes or bumps lasting for more than seven days in your mouth should also be immediately evaluated.

8. During pregnancy

Your hormones fluctuate more than usual typically when you are pregnant. As a result, you become more susceptible to gum disease, bleeding gums, and the buildup of plaque. Nearly 60 to 75% percent of pregnant women are seen to have gingivitis which is an early stage of periodontitis aggravated due to changing hormones. If left untreated it can lead to gum infection because the bone that supports the teeth will be lost. Teeth with little bone support will become loose and have to be eventually extracted. According to best Obstetrics and Gynecology, periodontitis can also lead to poor pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight. 

The changes in behaviors like eating habits in pregnant women can also put them at the risk for cavities. Poor oral health at the time of pregnancy can lead to poor health outcomes for the mother as well as the baby. A study found that children of mothers who have untreated cavities during pregnancy are 3 times more likely to have cavities at an early age. Hence, oral health is considered the most important part of prenatal care. So, a visit to a dentist at the time of pregnancy is a must.

9. You have a broken tooth or you crack a tooth

A broken tooth can cause extreme pain and sensitivity if left untreated. If your tooth is only chipped and you don’t experience any pain, then there is nothing to worry about. But if a big part of the tooth is knocked out then it will create a pathway for bacteria to enter the tooth and eventually leading to infection. So, seeking dental care will not only help you alleviate your pain but also save your tooth.

If the crack is small it can be fixed with a filling or you may need a root canal in case of a big crack. Unfortunately, sometimes, the tooth needs to be extracted when the crack is too far down the tooth. Teeth grinding is the most potent cause of cracked teeth. So, it is important to get yourself evaluated by visiting a dentist to help protect your teeth. 

10. You have loose teeth or your teeth fall out

Losing a tooth is only normal in children and not in adults. Your teeth become mature and act as tools to eat your meals by the time you reach adulthood, so adults should not have any loose teeth. Hence, if you feel like your tooth is moving, shifting, or even falling out, it is time to visit the dentist. 

There could be many possible reasons for a wiggly tooth. You may have had an accident that may have damaged your jaw or nerve. It could even occur due to localized infection. Also, gingivitis can progress to a disease that affects the bone surrounding the teeth, which ultimately results in loose teeth, pain, and eventually loss of teeth, if left untreated. 

So, you must visit a dentist to determine the underlying cause. The dentist may perform an oral exam or take X-rays to check whether gum disease or cavities are part of the problem. 

Conclusion

Your dental health is always linked to your overall wellness. Hence, having oral issues may even affect your health negatively. So, dental check-ups are highly recommended every six months. It offers you many benefits like early detection of cavities, oral cancer and gum disease, improvement in your overall health, and prevention of loss of a tooth. Additionally, keeping your teeth and gums healthy and thus providing you a stunning smile and boosting your self-confidence. Moreover, it can also save you money, time, and a lot of pain. 

But most people still avoid trips to a dentist. Especially, until they don’t have any toothache. However, if you fail to visit a dentist then you can face serious consequences like oral cancer, risk, and illness in other parts of the body. You may also be susceptible to loss of a tooth, increased risk of gum disease, bad breath, cavities, and teeth discoloration. 

You might find it difficult to regularly visit a dentist due to your busy schedule. But the signs mentioned in this post are a clear indication that you need a dentist.