Here are some of the most common signs your oral health is at risk.
- Bleeding gums. Many people believe that it’s normal for your gums to bleed a little when you brush or floss, but this is a myth. Gums bleed when something is wrong!
- Tooth sensitivity when you have hot or cold drinks. That jolt of pain may just be normal sensitivity or it could be a sign that something is wrong.
- Bad breath. If you (or someone close to you) notice a bad smell on your breath call your dentist. It could be halitosis or even pus from an infected tooth nerve.
- It’s been a while since your last dental appointment and you can feel ‘holes’ in your teeth. Those holes used to be your tooth structure and you should get them checked out straight away.
- You tend to only chew on one side of your mouth because of pain or a sensitive spot on the other side of your mouth. This could be any raft of problems, from a cavity through to an infected nerve…but either way it should be investigated.
- If you ran out of floss a couple of years ago and haven’t quite remembered to buy more, chances are your teeth and gums are under siege from bacteria. It’s time to schedule a check up and hygiene appointment to get your oral health back on track.
- Those yellow stains you notice between your teeth could just be from your coffee habit, or they could be a sign of something else such as tooth decay.
- You broke a tooth crunching that ice last week. It doesn’t hurt so it should be fine, right? Wrong! A broken tooth doesn’t always hurt but it is always a reason to see your dentist to check the damage.
- If you wake up in the morning with a sore, aching or tight jaw it could mean that you grind or clench your teeth during the night. Also known as bruxism, this is a habit that can wear down the tooth structure and expose the delicate nerves inside your teeth.
- Tried to dull a toothache using the age-old remedy of placing an aspirin or paracetamol directly on the tooth? This might give you some relief for a couple of hours but can also give you a nasty aspirin burn – and not to mention that the tooth will still need treating.
If you are experiencing any of these signs your oral health is at risk, contact us for an appointment. These are all warning signs that something isn’t right in your mouth, and if you ignore them the problem will only get worse and could lead to an emergency dental situation.
