3 Signs That Should Take You To The Dentist
Very few people actually enjoy going to the dentist. Unfortunately, this causes many people to avoid going to the dentist for longer than they should. It is important that you take care of your oral health and that you do what you can to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. Here are some signs that you should be going to the dentist.
1. You Feel A Hole Or Groove In Your Teeth
A cavity starts out with just some simple bacteria on your tooth that stays there too long. As the bacteria eats through the tooth it will begin to make the tooth weaker. This means the tooth gets softer and spongier, thus making the tooth more susceptible to breaking. Many times the cavity happens on the inside of the tooth so you can't feel it. That is why x-rays are so important. However, in some cases your tooth will get the hole or break near the surface, so that when you run your tongue over it, you can actually feel the cavity. If you can catch the problem as soon as it happens and get into the dentist right away you can prevent the problem from becoming more serious.
2. You Feel A Growth On The Gums
If a cavity is left for too long it leaves the teeth open for infection. In some cases the root around the tooth will get an infection in it. You might fell intense pain around the tooth, since the inflammation can cause pain right on the nerve and the root. But in other cases you might not feel as much pain, just a small growth. This is called an abscess. When a tooth becomes abscessed it could mean that all you need to do is take some antibiotics to kill the infection, and in other cases, it could mean that you need serious dental treatment, such as a root canal. This is a problem that you cannot ignore and must be attended to right away.
3. You Haven't Gone To The Dentist In 6 Months
Ideally, you should be going to the dentist every 6 months. The reason for this is that in that short of time you will catch problems early on. Fixing a small cavity will cost you almost nothing, but getting a root canal can cost you as much as ten times the amount of a simple cavity fix. If you stay on top of your dental appointments will save yourself money, and protect your oral health.
These are just three reasons to see a dentist, like one at Advanced Dentistry of St. Charles.
