Signs that a trip to the dentist is overdue

Other than brushing their teeth, most people don’t give much thought to dental health. Many people put off minor dental issues, promising themselves to attend to the issue once schedules open up.

But your oral health is more important than you might realise. The mouth is often referred to as the “window to your overall health”. The mouth acts as your body’s personal warning system. It can give you clues when something is wrong in another part of your body. For instance, diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis can be spotted early through the mouth.

This is why you can’t afford to ignore warning signs from your mouth. Taking care of minor dental issues early on can save you time, pain, and a ton of money.

So what should be on the lookout for? The following are some of the most common dental distress signals that you shouldn’t ignore. When you have any or a combination of these symptoms, make a dentist appointment as soon as possible

1. Your gums are red, swollen, and bleeding

Does your gum bleed when you brush your teeth? One of the early symptoms of gingivitis or gum disease, bleeding or swollen gums should be attended to by a dentist. Left untreated, gingivitis can eventually lead to a more serious dental disease called periodontitis and can even result in tooth loss.

Gum disease is caused by build-up of plaque on your gum-line from poor dental hygiene. Plaque is a film made of bacteria and food particles deposited on teeth and gum over time. If plaque isn’t cleaned off, it eventually becomes tartar - hardened plaque which can’t be removed by brushing and flossing alone.

When you notice your gums getting swollen, red, and bleeding easily, it’s imperative to see a dentist. In it’s early stages, gum disease can be treated in the office with cleaning. But in advanced stages, you might even need dental surgery.

Red alert: Bleeding and swollen gums can be a symptom of other diseases such as leukaemia, diabetes, and some cancers.

2. Your tooth is loose or falls out

The only time it’s OK to lose teeth is when one is a young child losing their milk teeth. Other than that, your teeth should always remain firmly planted in your gum. Therefore, if you have a tooth which feels shaky or actually falls out, don’t wait to see the dentist.  Eating and talking with a loose tooth can negatively impact the integrity of the tooth, causing more damage and eventually making it to fall out.

Other than a blow to the mouth, there are few other reasons to explain loose teeth. If you have gingivitis which is left untreated, it can cause damage to your gum and lead to loose teeth. Osteoporosis, which causes loss of bone density and is common in older people, may also cause loose teeth because of a weakening jaw bone.

3. You have sores, bumps, and swelling with pus in your mouth

Have you noticed pus collecting in your mouth? Do you have mouth sores and bumps that won’t go away? Dentists believe these symptoms could indicate an infection.

If you have pus in your mouth, it could be a dental or gum abscess – which should be treated immediately. An infection in the mouth can spread quickly and cause serious medical problems. Untreated dental infections can lead to sepsis – blood poisoning. In extreme cases, bacteria from an abscessed tooth can travel to the brain and can be fatal.

The dentist might prescribe antibiotics, draining of the infected sites, and a root canal of an abscessed tooth. 

Red alert: A sore that won’t go away could also be a sign or oral cancer, hormonal imbalances, or stress.

4. You have persistent jaw pain

If your jaw has persistent pain, won’t open, or makes a clicking sound, it is time to head to the dentist.  The most common reason for jaw pain is temporomandibular joint dysfunction, commonly referred to as TMJ. This condition can cause severe and chronic jaw pain which makes chewing or talking difficult.

TMJ disorder also causes difficulty in closing and opening the mouth, and a clicking or popping sound in the jaw. Dentists usually prescribe a night guard or braces for TMJ. But in advanced cases, it might even require surgery.

Red alert: If the pain in your jaw is accompanied by swelling, you could also have an infected tooth or a type of abnormal growth – such as a cyst or tumour.

5. You have persistent bad breath

Let’s be honest – every one of us has bad breath now and then. But if your bad breath doesn’t go away with brushing, a healthy diet, and hydration, see a dentist. Although it might not cause physical pain, bad breath can cause psychological distress and social anxiety. Instead of living in fear, talk to a dentist for proper treatment.

Red alert: Persistent bad breath can be sign of serious underlying health problems ranging from diabetes, acid reflux, an infection, and even cancer.

6. Your mouth is constantly dry

It’s normal for your mouth to feel dry sometimes. Probably, all you need to do is eat some food, drink water, and relax. But if your mouth is constantly dry and your saliva feels sticky, it could be a sign of underlying health problems such as Sjogren’s syndrome- an autoimmune disease that attacks the glands which produce moisture. Dry mouth is also often a side effect of medication for issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.

If not attended to, dry mouth can lead to serious oral infections since the mouth isn’t sufficiently protected by the proteins in saliva.

To treat dry mouth, a dentist can give special oral rinses or recommend  a toothpaste. They can also prescribe medications to promote the production of saliva in the body.

7. You have extreme tooth sensitivity

Can’t eat anything because of sensitive teeth? To get to the root of the problem, head to the dentist pronto. Teeth can become sensitive to hot, cold, or even spicy food. 

Common causes of tooth sensitivity include tooth decay-which exposes the nerve endings in your teeth. Fractured teeth, gum recession, the habit of grinding teeth,  can also become  lead to extreme tooth sensitivity. The dentist will determine the root of the problem and treat accordingly.