We have come to learn that taking care of your teeth is a necessary part of having good hygiene. Your teeth are very important for eating and also for your appearance. We now know that a lack of cleaning your teeth can result in decay and issues. Not only will these issues cause pain, they will make chewing your food hard to do. Over time, your teeth build up plaque and other harmful bacteria. Thankfully, taking care of your teeth isn’t very hard to do. Also, occasional trips to your dentist are usually covered by insurance. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important signs that you need to go see your dentist.
Before that, we will discuss some of the best ways to have good oral hygiene on a daily basis. First of all, brushing your teeth is the most important thing you can do. It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day for about two minutes each time. Spend about half the time brushing your top teeth and the other half of the time brushing your bottom teeth. Flossing your teeth is arguably just as important as brushing. Flossing your teeth is necessary because brushing alone does not remove all of the food that gets stuck in between your teeth.
Spend about a minute or so flossing your teeth every time that you brush your teeth. If you brush and floss twice a day, that comes to about 6 minutes of your time each day. While it seems so easy to keep good care of your teeth, people often neglect it. Because of this, people frequently experience dental issues that require a professional to fix. Now, let’s discuss the top 8 signs that you need to visit your dentist.
1. Tooth Pain
If you are experiencing tooth pain in any form, you need to see your dentist. Tooth pain can result from a number of things but should always be examined by a professional. Ignoring or trying to treat your tooth pain by yourself can result in more problems. Let’s discuss some of the reasons that tooth pain may occur. The first reason that your tooth may hurt is due to damage. Impacts such as direct trauma or even biting on something hard can cause a tooth to chip or break. You may not even know that this has happened and the pain may come on suddenly without warning.
Regardless of whether you can see the trauma or not, you need to see a professional so that they can decide on the best solution. Another reason for tooth pain is tooth decay. Neglecting your teeth can lead to decay which is one of the biggest reasons that pain may occur. Pain from tooth decay is not something that you can fix at home and you will need to see your dentist immediately. One final reason that tooth pain may occur is gum disease. Although this is a less common cause, it may be creating tooth pain for you.
2. Removal of Wisdom Teeth
Having or needing your wisdom teeth removed is another reason that you should see your dentist. Your wisdom teeth are the large teeth located in the back of your mouth. Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed but a lot of people do. The reason that they are removed is that sometimes they can interfere with other teeth upon coming in. If they come in sideways or if there isn’t enough room in your mouth for them, they will force your other teeth to move. This can be detrimental to the tooth placement in your mouth. If you have already had your wisdom teeth removed and are having issues with recovery, this is another viable reason to go see your specialist.
3. Inflamed Guns
A common side effect of not having good hygiene is inflamed gums. Essentially, when your gums aren’t properly cleaned, they build up bacteria and plaque. This buildup results in inflammation of the gums. When your gums are inflamed, they are painful and can even bleed. Gingivitis is also another possibility. The result of this gum disease known as gingivitis is swollen but usually not painful gums. When it comes to treating or preventing your inflamed gums, you will need to practice good hygiene habits. This includes brushing, flossing, and eating foods that are easier on your teeth. You could also try anti-gingivitis toothpaste.
4. Filling Fell Out
If you have had a cavity in the past, you will probably have had a filling. A filling is essentially a hard material that is used to fill a cavity in your tooth. One of the possibilities following your cavity is that it could fall out. If your filling falls out, you will need to arrange an appointment with your dentist in which you will have a new filling put in. It is necessary to understand that the filling serves the purpose of repairing a damaged tooth. Ignoring a filling that fell out can result in additional damage to the tooth structure.
5. Cavities
If you are concerned about having a cavity, you should visit a professional. Cavities, as stated in the last section, are a result of a damaged tooth. When this happens, there is a loss of the protective enamel that covers healthy teeth. The usually result from a lack of good dental hygiene. Certain foods such as those high in sugar have been known to increase the breakdown of enamel. If you are concerned that you may have a cavity, arrange an appointment to have a filling put in. In order to prevent cavities or slow down the breakdown of your enamel, be sure to brush twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
6. Temperature Sensitivity
Having tooth sensitivity to hot and cold is another reason that you should visit your dentist. While light sensitivity is normal, you should not ignore anything excessive. The extreme sensitivity of teeth can cause serious pain upon eating or drinking hot/cold foods or beverages. Some people’s teeth can even be sensitive to the air. The reason that your teeth may be sensitive is that the enamel has eroded. The enamel on your teeth serves the purpose of protecting your teeth. As your enamel wears down over time, it can cause your teeth to be left unprotected. In this case, even mildly cold or hot items can be excruciating to consume.
7. White Spots
White spots on your teeth is another reason that you may need to arrange an appointment. White spots can be the result of a few different issues. The first thing that may be happening is that you are developing fluorosis which results from excessive fluoride intake. Another possibility is that you are experiencing Hypocalcification which results from a mineral loss in the tooth. While the problem can sometimes be treated at home, you will likely need to see a professional. Here, your dentist has a few choices as to how they will go about fixing the problem. They may bleach your teeth or cap them in order to hide the spots.
8. Headaches
If you are experiencing headaches that are tooth related, this is another reason to go see your dentist. Obviously, not all headaches are tooth related. So, how will you know when it is? Usually, headaches that are accompanied by toothaches are worthy of visiting a professional. Toothaches can cause headaches because they both affect the trigeminal nerve in your head. Toothaches and headaches that are severe require a professional to assess. Even if your headache is much greater than any pain you are experiencing in your mouth, it may be tooth related. Tooth decay is the primary cause of a toothache but infection or gum disease are other possibilities.
