While most of us will go to a general practitioner for medical problems, a lot of us tend to avoid seeing a dentist whenever we have tooth-related issues. Perhaps you have an inherent fear of going to the dentist due to experiences when you were younger, or maybe you just don’t see your teeth as being important unlike the rest of your body’s health.
Unfortunately, neglecting dental visits can be dangerous and could lead to unchecked gum disease, causing you to lose teeth at an earlier age. It’s important that we keep our teeth clean and healthy, and this often requires the help of an experienced dentist.
So here are a couple of signs that tell you that you need to visit a dentist again!
Are you experiencing any pain in your teeth?
Pain in your teeth or mouth can be a sign of a deeper problem.
If left unchecked, it can actually lead to continuous headaches and the pain will only get worse over time if you leave it unchecked. Swelling around the cheeks or painful bumps in your gums could also indicate infection.
Again, if this is left unchecked, it could lead to more serious issues that will create long-lasting symptoms. You’ll want to see a dentist as soon as possible if you’re experiencing pain as you may need oral surgery to remedy the issue.
With any luck, the problem could be treated very easily with the help of antibiotics or other medications, but you won’t know unless you get a checkup with your dentist.
Have you injured your mouth recently?
Trauma can actually cause a lot of issues in your mouth. If you’ve recently fallen and hurt your jaw or been in a physical altercation, you’ll want to check your mouth for any potential trauma or injury. Trauma to the teeth can often cause damage to the roots which, if left unchecked, can lead to widespread damage in the future.
It’s a good idea to monitor the area you’ve injured and even perform an x-ray to see if there’s any underlying damage that you should be concerned about.
Are your teeth feeling more sensitive lately?
If you find it difficult to drink hot or cold liquids without your teeth hurting then there’s a good sign that there’s a deeper issue affecting your mouth.
While this can usually be treated by using some kind of sensitivity toothpaste, you’ll want to check your teeth for any kind of cavities or infections to see if there’s a deeper underlying issue here.
Are your gums feeling sore?
Gum disease is surprisingly common these days, especially in people that haven’t visited a dentist for a long time or haven’t been keeping up with their oral health.
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the gums that hold your teeth in place and is often caused by a buildup of bacteria that occurs when you don’t brush or floss on a regular basis.
It can lead to tooth loss, pain and other advanced complications, so it’s worth getting a checkup to see if you’re facing gum disease.
