Your mouth can speak volumes without you having to say a word. In fact, your mouth may be the first thing people notice. Smiles, laughs, even the smell of your breath all leave lasting impressions on others. The inside of your mouth can be home to a multitude of tell-tale signs for potential health problems, poor hygiene, and even what your diet and lifestyle consist of. How can you know when there is a serious problem that requires a trip to the dentist? Regular checkups help prevent serious issues, but it is possible for problems to develop in between visits. Recognizing the signs of a real problem can get you into the dentist and feeling better before the problem has a chance to get worse.
Chronic Bad Breath
Everyone has experienced a bout of bad breath from time to time, but chronic halitosis (bad breath) is usually an indication that there are bigger problems at bay that need to be addressed. Bad breath could just stem from lack of proper oral care and failure to properly maintain good brushing and flossing habits. Consistently, missing brushing and flossing could lead to bacterial growth in your mouth and chronic bad breath. Unfortunately, bad breath is just the beginning once bacteria starts to grow it can infect your gums and lead to gum disease called gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation and bleeding of gums. This condition can further increase the risk for other health problems like stroke or heart attack. Infections of the mouth aren’t limited to just the gums an abscessed tooth can cause inflammation of the gums, infection, and drainage that will also affect your breath. It is best to make an appointment if you have any of the symptoms or concerns about the state of your gums.
Pain
Toothaches are another common problem and can be quite debilitating if not treated quickly. These aches can stem from different problems and may not necessarily be anything to do with the tooth. Most toothaches can be traced back to tooth decay or damaged teeth or gums. If a gum as recessed even a little exposing the root, you may experience tooth sensitivity. A cavity or cracked tooth may also lead you to experience a high level of pain in the damaged tooth and sensitivity. There are times that toothaches and sensitivity are caused by other factors like sinus swelling and headaches. Visit us if pain or sensitivity persist.
Other pain or oral problems like mouth sores or ulcers could be related to ill fitting dentures or orthodontic fixtures. In some cases these sores are due to viruses, vitamin deficiencies like B12 or potential oral cancers from abuse of tobacco products. Please contact us immediately if anything in your mouth refuses to heal.
