More than a quarter of adults have untreated tooth decay, and about half have symptoms of gum disease. More than half of kids have cavities too. Prompt treatment of decay, infections, and other problems is important for preventing more serious issues, and that means you need to know what symptoms to look for.
At Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center in Oakland, California, Brandon Kang, DDS, helps patients get the care they need to enjoy optimal oral health and beautiful smiles at every age, using special technology to identify underlying problems. In this post, learn six common symptoms to watch out for.
Bleeding gums are a hallmark symptom of gum disease, a leading cause of adult tooth loss. Gum disease happens when bacteria build up along your gum line, releasing toxins that irritate your gums.
Ongoing irritation and inflammation quickly lead to bleeding gums, especially during brushing and flossing. Ignoring bleeding gums allows gum disease to progress to a more serious stage, causing infections that dramatically increase your risk of tooth loss.
Other problems can also cause bleeding gums, including abscesses, other infections, and oral cancer. In any case, bleeding gums are never normal, and they should always be checked by our team.
Bleeding isn’t the only symptom that shows up in your gums. If your gums are swollen, sore, or especially red, that can also be a sign of an underlying problem.
While swelling and tenderness can be associated with advanced gum disease, these symptoms can also be a sign of an underlying infection or a tooth abscess, a type of infection that can quickly spread to your bones and bloodstream.
Your teeth are made for biting and chewing, so if these simple functions cause any amount of pain, that’s a sign you have a problem. It could be something as simple as a lodged piece of food that just needs a bit of expert flossing to remove.
Or it could be a symptom of tooth decay, infection, oral cancer, or another oral health problem. Dr. Kang evaluates your tooth and the tissues surrounding it to determine the cause and prescribe the best treatment.
Occasional bad breath usually isn’t anything to worry about, especially if it follows a meal of particularly odiferous foods, like garlic, onions, or coffee. When bad breath is chronic or persistent, it can be a sign of an underlying problem, like a cavity or an infection.
Bad breath is also more common among people with dry mouth, another chronic condition that happens when you don’t produce enough saliva. Dry mouth also increases your risks of decay and infection. Prescription rinses and other simple solutions can help.
Teeth naturally become yellower with age, as your enamel layer wears away and reveals more of the underlying yellowish layer of dentin. But if one or a few teeth are darker than the neighboring teeth, it’s often a sign of internal tooth damage.
In these instances, a tooth may change color because of internal decay or traumatic damage to your tooth. Damage to your tooth root can also lead to a discolored tooth.
Enjoying an ice cream cone or a hot cup of coffee shouldn’t cause tooth pain. But for people with tooth sensitivity, hot and cold foods and drinks (and sometimes sugary foods) can cause significant discomfort.
Sometimes, tooth sensitivity happens because the protective layer of enamel is especially thin. But other times, cavities, tiny cracks or chips, or infections can lead to sensitivity too. Having a checkup is the best way to determine why your teeth are sensitive.
Annual checkups are the key to spotting oral health problems as early as possible. If it’s been a while since your last checkup or if you have any unusual symptoms, book an appointment with Dr. Kang online or over the phone today.
