While you might not be aware of it, your teeth can have a significant impact on your health and wellness. It is no secret that if you have a healthy body but are battling tooth decay, it will slowly impair your confidence or self-esteem. To prevent tooth decay, you should always be alert for signs the gums might be weakening.
What Are Dental Cavities?
Tooth decay occurs when the enamel becomes eroded. This allows bacteria to invade the inner denture. Plaque and certain foods can wear away the tooth’s sensitive enamel, making a tooth more susceptible to decay. As the enamel wears away, bacteria start to infiltrate the tooth’s dentin, causing it to decay.
Let’s have a look at what symptoms you might want to take care of when looking for the signs of tooth decay. This list can help you observe if tooth decay is progressing.
Symptoms of Tooth Decay
When you notice specific signs in your mouth, you may be able to determine that something is wrong. For example, you might see any or all the following symptoms:
You need to get your teeth checked if you feel dull or throbbing pains. These pains tend to get worse with each passing day. Early detection makes tooth decay easier to treat and also helps prevent reoccurrence. Never neglect a toothache when it stays for a long time.
Pressure on the teeth when eating
Another sign of tooth decay is when you begin to feel unusual pressure on your tooth. This usually happens whenever you bite or chew food. If you have never experienced such pressure before, you should be concerned about tooth decay. If you feel the ongoing tension in your teeth, it’s a sign that teeth are not healthy enough.
Pus in your gums
In your gums or around your tooth, pus may ooze out, a sign that you might be suffering from an infection. This can also indicate early tooth decay. Without treatment, the already troubling situation could worsen further if left unattended.
Pits on your teeth
A toothache may be a sign that decay is setting in. A pit or noticeable hole on any of your teeth is a clear sign of tooth decay, so be sure to sift through your teeth. A dental x-ray may be required to detect these pits as they can be so small that only a dentist can detect them.
Extreme sensitivity
Usually, our bodies react when we eat something too hot or cold. However, it might be a problem when the sensitivity exceeds more than normal. For example, flinching at cold or hot foods can signify that you may already have cavities. These cavities make it very hard to tolerate certain foods.
Swollen and bleeding gums
Getting swollen and bleeding gums are signs that you need a dental checkup soon. Tooth decay usually starts with the following cavities, which need immediate attention.
Bad Breath
Cavities result from the degradation of a tooth by bacteria. The bacteria in your mouth, like all other organisms, produce waste that can contribute to bad breath and taste in your mouth. Consider getting a dental checkup if lousy breath persists and is difficult to mask.
Loose Fillings
Dental fillings are intended to replace decayed tooth structures, but they are not permanent. It depends on the material used in the filling, but the average lifespan is between 5-15 years. A loose filling or a fallout occurs when bacteria have broken the seal between a filling and the tooth.
Still, hidden dental decay can be difficult to detect for the layperson. Using a laser, bacteria within teeth are vaporized, analyzed. And a numerical reading is computed to determine the amount of decay present.
Is it possible to prevent dental cavities?
To prevent cavities from occurring in the first place, one must avoid fillings and other more invasive procedures. Tooth decay is usually caused by:
- Inadequate dental hygiene
- Snacking and regularly eating before bed
- Consuming sugary drinks
- Feeding infants at bedtime
- Insufficient fluoridation
- Intense dry mouth
- Loose or worn-down dental restorations
- Indigestion and heartburn
BOTTOM LINE
All people who are conscious of their oral health should be aware of these eight signs of tooth decay. Spots on the tooth’s enamel can also be one of the symptoms you need to be mindful of. Have you noticed any new black marks on your teeth? Yes? If so, you might have a decaying tooth. you are developing a fever or suffering from bad breath as well. The best remedy to get tooth decay under control is to help right away.
To prevent dental cavities, you should maintain good oral hygiene. And consult your dentist if any symptoms occur. If you catch a hole early enough, then it’s more likely that you’ll only have to have a filling instead of a more invasive procedure.