The dentist’s office is nobody’s favorite place to be; therefore, many people avoid the dentist when they should be going. However, that’s actually self-defeating. Many dental problems that have complex and time-consuming solutions start out as small problems. If they’re addressed while they’re still small problems, they can often be remedied much more easily. Here are a few signs that something is amiss.
1 — Blood When You Brush
It’s not uncommon to brush your teeth and see a little bit of pink when you spit out your toothpaste. Blood in your toothpaste is often thought of as a sign you’re brushing too hard. Unless you’re brushing incredibly hard with a stiff-bristled brush, healthy gums shouldn’t bleed. Blood when you brush is likely a sign that you have some kind of gum irritation. This is typically known as gingivitis, which means inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is the result of a bacteria or a virus that has worked its way into your gums. If it’s a bacteria, it will likely multiply unless you treat it. If it’s allowed to multiply, it could infect your roots. That would result in a root canal. If you catch it early, it can often be treated with an antibiotic or a good cleaning; that’s much better than a root canal.
2 — Tooth Pain
Your teeth and gums are full of nerves. Sometimes, those nerves can cause you pain. The pain might not even be very bad at first. However, it’s a sign that something has become inflamed. Your body inflames when it is trying to fight off a bacteria or a virus. Pain can also be a sign that some kind of physical damage has occurred. If you have dental pain for about two or three days consistently, even if it’s not bad, you should see a dentist.
3 — Sensitive Teeth
The enamel of your teeth protects the delicate nerves from damage. If you are experiencing pain when you eat something very cold or very hot, that means the nerves are not being adequately protected. There are several reasons you might have reduced protection. A dentist might even give you a veneer to replace the missing enamel. That’s much better than the alternative, which is waiting until the nerves have actually become damaged.
4 — Swollen Gums
Your gums swell when they’ve become infected either with a virus or a bacteria. They might not even hurt. You’ll just feel that they’re puffy and perhaps warm. See a dentist before the infection spreads.
All of these are early warning signs that something worse could be coming. Treating them early is key.