Health & Wellness

The Top 8 Signs That You Should Visit A Dentist At The Earliest

Toothache, or any dental problem for that matter, deserves your immediate attention. Sometimes even a small delay in attending to a dental problem can cause you much pain and discomfort. Many people ignore the necessity of oral health until it becomes an urgent issue. 

But how can you know that your oral health is compromised and you need to seek immediate help from a dental professional? Here are the top 8 signs that indicate you should visit a dentist at the earliest:

1. Toothache:

If you haven’t suffered from pain, this may seem to be an overstatement. But the sad truth is that aching teeth can leave you feeling miserable.

More often than not, toothaches indicate a deeper problem. There can be several potential reasons you may suffer from toothache, like tooth decay, root sensitivity, and chronic grinding. If left untreated, the pain can turn from bad to worse. 

Your dentist will be able to diagnose the exact cause of the ache and suggest a proper remedy or treatment procedure to bring you relief and prevent further pain.

TOOTH ACHE
Toothache: Visit a dentist

2. Periodontal Problems:

Do you experience repeated bleeding in your teeth? If yes, then it is possibly a sign of periodontal disease. Often this condition indicates infection in your gums and the alveolar bone that keeps your teeth in place.

Periodontal disease starts with a build-up of bacteria or plague inside your mouth and may end up in tooth loss if left unchecked. It happens because the bacteria accumulating inside your mouth slowly destroys the tissue surrounding the teeth, resulting in a recession of gum and tooth mobility.

Your dentist can prevent the progression of periodontal disease through various methods. These include removing of plague in mild cases to recommending invasible teeth braces for aligning of shifting teeth in severe cases to even conducting surgery in extreme cases.

3. Chipped or Cracked Tooth:

You don’t always need to get into a brawl to end up with a chipped or cracked tooth. Even an accidental fall or biting something hard can cause such damage. Regardless of the reason, if your tooth suffers from a crack or chip, you need to reach out to your dentist without delay.

When you have a crack in your tooth, it means that the enamel covering it is damaged. As a result, your tooth surface can become tender, jagged, or disfigured. 

Based on your damaged tooth’s condition, your dentist may suggest dental implants, fillings, or other treatment procedures. The sooner you visit a dentist, the better your chance of getting the tooth repaired successfully.

4. Stained or Discolored Teeth:

Who doesn’t want to flaunt a bright smile? But stained or discolored teeth can diminish the radiance of your smile to a large extent. Incase you notice that your teeth have started to darken or lose their luminosity, it’s time to get in touch with your dentist.

Tooth discoloration may result due to several factors. Some of the leading causes include smoking tobacco, drinking beverages like tea, coffee, or wine, not maintaining proper dental hygiene, suffering from certain diseases, and aging. 

Fortunately, there are a lot of treatments that are available to remove tooth stains. Depending on the cause of your blemishes, your doctor may prescribe teeth whitening gel, whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, or other suitable remedies.

Be sure to read: Can a Dentist Tell If you Smoke

5. Loose Filling or Dental Crown:

Having fillings or dental crowns on your teeth is a common thing. However, if your dental crown or filling is damaged, becomes loose, or falls off, you need to contact your dentist at the earliest.

A dental crown or filling is meant to offer protection and strength to a tooth and improve its appearance. If that support or protection is lost, your tooth can become vulnerable to infection and other dental problems. You may suffer from pain and discomfort.

The good part is that your dentist will be able to replace your dental crown or filling with a new one and bring relief to you. 

6. Bad Breath:

Bad breath is one of the most common dental problems. If you find that you have bad breath, it is time to rush to your dentist without wasting any time.

One of the primary reasons for bad breath is the lack of oral hygiene. Apart from causing embarrassment, bad breath may indicate that you have other underlying dental issues, such as gum disease, cavities, dry mouth, etc.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that bad breath can be entirely overcome by popping mints in your mouth or using a mouthwash. While these procedures may bring you temporary relief, your dentist will be able to treat the main cause of the problem and offer you a permanent solution.

7. Canker Sores:

Having canker sores is a usual matter for many adults. Also known as mouth ulcers due to their occurrence inside the mouth, these small lesions can cause pain while you are talking, eating, or drinking.

In most cases, these ulcers are harmless and heal within a week or two. But if you notice that one or more of your canker sores are getting larger, becoming extremely painful, or don’t heal even after a fortnight, it is time to seek your dentist’s advice. 

Such a case of a canker sore can be a premature sign of oral cancer. An early discovery will provide you with a better chance of recovery.

Read Also: How to Reverse Receding Gums Naturally

8. Abscessed Tooth:

When you have a tooth abscess or a pocket of pus developing around the root of a tooth, the wise thing to do is to see your dentist immediately. 

An abscessed tooth results from a bacterial infection that originates from its inner chamber and spreads to its root. It can cause swelling in your face and severe pain in your jawbone, ear, or neck.

This oral problem requires proper treatment by your dentist as a tooth abscess doesn’t go away. There are several procedures that your dentist can follow to get rid of the abscess, such as a root canal, draining of the ulcer, or even tooth extraction, depending on your condition. 

Your overall well-being depends a lot on your oral health. So, you must keep your teeth and gums in a healthy state. While it is advisable to visit a dentist in case of any problem, make sure not to miss your regular dental check-up sessions.

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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