If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your teeth until there’s something wrong. And by then, it may be too late. Cavities are a serious dental concern, and it’s important to identify the warning signs so you can get treatment as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for these symptoms, and if any are present, make an appointment with your dentist immediately. You don’t want to let a simple cavity become a bigger problem!
- Toothache or pain when eating
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
- A bad taste in your mouth, especially in the morning
- Difficulty chewing or biting down on food
- Swelling and redness around the tooth
- Loose teeth or a change in the fit of your dentures
- Visible holes, cracks, or chips on a tooth
- Discolouration of the tooth (yellow, brown, black)
- An unexplained bad breath that won’t go away
- Pus when pressure is applied to the affected area
Toothache or pain when eating
Toothache refers to pain in and around the teeth and jaws that are usually caused by tooth decay. You may feel toothache in many ways. It can come and go or be constant. Eating or drinking can worsen the pain, particularly if the food or drink is hot or cold. The pain can also be mild or severe. It may feel “sharp” and start suddenly. It can be worse at night, mainly when you’re lying down. A lost filling or broken tooth can sometimes start the pain. It can also sometimes be challenging to decide whether the pain is in your upper or lower teeth. When a lower molar tooth is affected, the pain can often feel like it’s coming from the ear.
Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
Fissures in your teeth can expose the same tender nerves, so cavities – both big and small – can also be the culprit. In fact, sensitivity to hot and cold foods is often a warning sign that a cavity is forming; it’s time to make an appointment to see your dentist. Similarly, fillings that repair cavities can become loose or fall out, causing hypersensitivity where the original cavity was cleared out.
A bad taste in your mouth, especially in the morning
Should you not be in the habit of brushing and flossing before bedtime, you may want to start if you wish to rid yourself of that yucky taste in your mouth each morning. By not brushing and flossing, you allow food particles to remain in your mouth for hours and hours, allowing bacteria to form inside your mouth.
Difficulty chewing or biting down on food
Have a toothache or sensitive teeth after eating? Tooth decay (cavities) can leave lingering pain after you eat certain types of food. Many people are sensitive to sweets — whether it’s a flavoured coffee, a breakfast pastry, or even a soda — when they have a cavity. Large cavities can get food stuck in them which can cause pressure and result in pain.
Since advanced tooth decay can irritate the pulp (nerve) inside the tooth, you can experience painful flare-ups each time you bite, chew, or put food into your mouth. However, it’s important to note that not all cavities hurt. If you feel a rough edge, a possible opening in your tooth enamel, or a strange sensation when you bite down, schedule an exam with a dentist to evaluate it to prevent further advancement into the pulp or worse.
Swelling and redness around the tooth
Sometimes, food debris remains between the tooth and the gum line, causing cavities. If a person does not remove the debris, it can cause plaque buildup and the gum around the tooth to swell. Over time, this may result in dental decay and gum disease.
In addition to swelling around one tooth, some other signs of poor dental hygiene may include:
- gum redness
- bad breath
- loose or broken teeth
- bleeding while brushing or flossing teeth
Loose teeth or a change in the fit of your dentures
Hardened plaque, or tartar, causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating gaps that can become infected. Over time, this process can break down the bone and tissue supporting the teeth, causing the teeth to become loose. Other gum disease symptoms include tender, red, painful, or swollen gums. Meanwhile, the shape of your dentures can warp from extended exposure to hot water or a fracture that has compromised its structure.
Visible holes, cracks, or chips on a tooth
Our teeth are strong, but with the many stresses and strains they must endure, they can chip, crack or break. Common causes of these breaks include eating something hard, facial trauma following an accident, damage from sports, untreated cavities that can cause a tooth to become brittle and break, or old, large amalgam fillings, where the remaining structure of the natural tooth can become brittle over time.
Broken teeth may not necessarily cause immediate pain. If the break has travelled to the nerve, you might experience occasional discomfort when chewing, for example, or sensitivity to hot and cold. Whether you are in pain or not, all breaks should be investigated by your dentist as soon as possible to check the tooth’s health and stability and provide necessary treatment to prevent further deterioration or problems.
Discolouration of the tooth (yellow, brown, black)
Tooth decay discolours teeth in several ways. Cavities are caused by plaque that isn’t removed from a tooth and begins to destroy the tooth’s enamel, turning it brown. Secondly, a cavity eats through the enamel and exposes the tooth’s internal dentin, which is naturally darker than the outer surface of the teeth. The decayed portion of the tooth will also darken as it begins to die, causing a discoloured spot.
An unexplained bad breath that won’t go away
The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene. Without proper oral hygiene — like brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings — harmful bacteria invade your mouth and multiply out of control. This can lead to several oral health issues like halitosis, cavities, and gum disease.
Pus when pressure is applied to the affected area
Bacteria can enter the innermost part of the tooth through either a deep cavity or a chip or crack in your tooth. The resulting infection and inflammation can cause an abscess at the tip of the root. A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection.
Regular checkups can identify cavities and other dental conditions before they cause troubling symptoms and lead to more serious problems. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing the earliest stages of tooth decay and preventing its progression. Make sure that you see a dentist who uses the right technique and instruments to address your tooth issues. Remember: if a cavity is treated before it starts causing pain, you probably won’t need extensive treatment.
References:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mouth/toothache
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