If you suffer extreme tooth pain or knock out a tooth, you know that you should contact your dentist about these dental emergencies right away. But if you see smaller changes or discomforts in your smile, you might feel less urgency to give your dentist a call. You might think you can wait until your next regularly scheduled dentist appointment to discuss them.
However, these small symptoms could suggest a serious concern with your oral health that will need urgent attention from your dentist to eradicate. Otherwise, you could see irreversible damage to your teeth, gums, and more. Read on to find three seemingly minor dental problems that you should not delay reaching out to your dentist about.
Tooth Sensitivity Pain
Have you noticed a sharp, sudden pain in your tooth when biting into food? A jolt of discomfort that fades when you remove the food from your mouth? This type of pain is known as tooth sensitivity.
It happens when the enamel, the outer layer of your tooth, thins or weakens to expose the nerves deeper within your tooth. A stimulus, like food, will touch the nerves to send pain signals to your brain. And the pain stops with the removal of the stimulus.
Because the pain is intermittent, many people think they can endure or tolerate the discomfort. But exposed nerves point to weak spots in your tooth where oral bacteria can penetrate the enamel to give you cavities and other problems. And tooth sensitivity can also occur as a side effect of existing problems, like advanced tooth decay.
So do not hesitate to call your dentist about this problem. Tooth pain of any kind is abnormal and warrants urgent dental attention.
Bleeding in the Gums
Your gums might bleed due to irritation from harsh teeth brushing or other acute reasons. But if the issue becomes chronic or has no noticeable source, then the symptom may point to gum disease. This infection of the gum tissue can present with irritation, inflammation, and bleeding in its early stages.
As the infection goes untreated, it will penetrate to the teeth and jawbone, severely damaging your smile and putting you in danger of tooth loss. Gum disease is easier to treat in its early stages. So do not delay speaking to your dentist about concerns with your gums.
Chronic Bad Breath
Bad-smelling breath can happen to the best of us after a strong-flavored meal. But you can usually resolve this by completing your oral hygiene routine. This washes away lingering food particles in your mouth to leave you feeling and smelling fresh and clean.
But if bad breath persists, it might occur due to an underlying dental problem. Halitosis can develop due to advanced cases of gum disease or tooth decay thanks to a build-up of oral bacteria. You will need your dentist to treat these issues, or they will worsen since they do not go away of their own accord.