Common Tooth Problems That May Indicate You Need to See Your Dentist

Regardless of how disciplined and dedicated you are to caring for your dental health, you can experience a dental problem at some point in your life. Dental issues are undoubtedly some of the most common health problems that many people experience in their lifetime. Knowing what to do if you have a dental problem can help prevent problematic and expensive dental and other health issues later in life. In this article, we address common tooth problems that could indicate you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Common Dental Health Issues That Indicate You Need to Visit Your Dentist

Preventative dental care is the best way to ensure your gums and teeth are healthy throughout your lifetime. While your regular home-based dental care routines, like teeth flossing and brushing, can help you stay on top of your dental health, most dentists recommend regular dental check-ups at least twice a year.

Routine dental check-ups and exams allow your dentist to check for any abnormalities in your mouth and clean areas of your teeth you could not clean at home using a toothbrush. While visiting your dentist every six (6) months is a great idea, sometimes it could be necessary for you to do so sooner for immediate treatment.

Below are common dental health issues that indicate you should see your dentist for a quick check-up and treatment:

Toothaches

Toothache is the pain that you experience in or around your teeth. Like any other pain, a toothache is your body's natural way of telling or signaling that something is wrong, and the pain could be mild, temporary, severe, or long-lasting. Below are some of the possible causes of your toothache:

• Infection of your tooth nerve.
• Cavities.
• Trauma to the tooth.
• Gum disease.
• Treat grinding.
• Failed restorative treatment.

A tooth cavity is one of the most common causes of toothaches. A cavity is a hole on the surface of your teeth (enamel) that occurs when it is eroded and washed away by acidic excretion released by bacteria in your mouth. When left untreated, a tooth cavity will grow deeper and expose the inner nervous part of your tooth (pulp chamber), making it painful.

While you can treat mild toothaches using over-the-counter (OTC) medications or by applying ice wrapped on a cloth to your check area around the affected tooth, you should see a dentist when the toothache persists. That is particularly true if you are experiencing other symptoms, like swelling or pus around the affected tooth.

Tooth Sensitivity

Another common symptom or indicator of a dental health issue is tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity occurs when the nervous and sensitive pulp chamber remains exposed to stimuli due to erosion of your tooth enamel or a severe, extensive crack.

While tooth sensitivity can feel like a toothache, these two symptoms of a dental health issue differ. You are more likely to experience tooth sensitivity when the affected tooth stays exposed to stimuli like cold, sour, warm, or salty food.

Below are some of the common causes of tooth sensitivity among most individuals:

• Using a hard toothbrush.
• Brushing your teeth vigorously.
• Grinding your teeth at night.
• Drinking and eating acidic foods.

Chipped teeth, broken teeth, tooth decay, and worn-out dental fillings are other causes of tooth sensitivity. Whether it is your first time or not, do not ignore a tooth sensitivity issue. While it is not a dental emergency, you should speak with a dentist if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity. Your dentist can help you pinpoint the cause of this bothersome issue and provide the necessary treatment.

Tender or Bleeding Gums

Generally, gums do not bleed and require as much attention as your teeth. If you notice your gums bleeding or swollen, you should speak with your dentist because that could be a sign of gum disease. Your dentist will check for possible pockets formed between your teeth and gums by the plaque. Medical treatment remedies for bleeding or tender gums include:

• Professional teeth cleaning.
• Using softer toothbrushes.
• Ointments.
• Prescription toothpaste.
• Fluoride application.
• Medicated or antibacterial mouthwashes.

The specific treatment that your dentist will recommend will depend on the cause of your tooth sensitivity issue.

Bad Breath

Also known as halitosis, bad breath is a common dental health issue. While eating spiced foods or foods containing onions and ginger can cause bad breath, this condition could also be a sign of an underlying dental and oral health issue, such as:

• Periodontitis.
• Abscess.
• Dry mouth.
• Oral cancer.
• Bacteria.
• Uncontrolled diabetes.

Since mouthwash only masks this problem, you should consult a dentist if you have persistent bad breath that does not go away even after brushing your teeth. Because the cause of halitosis could vary from one person to another, your dentist must assess and examine your mouth to determine the root cause of the problem.

Tooth Decay

While it is more common among people who do not visit the dentist for regular cleaning, anyone can experience tooth decay, even those who do not miss their dental appointments. Tooth decay occurs when the plaque on the surface of your tooth combines with sugars from the food you consume daily, releasing acids that attack and erode your enamel.

Depending on the extent of your tooth decay, your dentist could recommend any of the following treatments:

• Filling.
• Dental crown placement.
• Extraction.

You can prevent tooth decay by scheduling regular dental appointments with your dentist for thorough teeth cleaning and brushing your teeth at least twice daily.

Dry Mouth

Frequent dry mouth is another common dental issue that shows you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth fail to produce enough saliva. Aside from helping you swallow your food, saliva plays a crucial role in digestion because it moistens your food for easy swallowing. 

Although having a dry mouth does not necessarily mean you have an underlying health condition, discussing the issue with your dentist is wise. Some of the possible causes of this include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Radiotherapy.
• Dehydration.
• Stress and anxiety.
• Aging.
• Certain medications.
• Snoring and mouth breathing.
• Smoking.

Your dentist can help you identify the cause of your persistent dry mouth issue and provide appropriate treatment. Due to the antibacterial properties of saliva, when left unchecked, dry mouth issues can allow cavity-causing bacteria to flourish. To treat this problem and prevent tooth decay, your dentist could recommend the following remedies:

• Chewing sugarless gum.
• Frequently sipping water to wash away food debris in your mouth.
• Using a humidifier to increase moisture levels in the mouth.
• Taking medications or artificial saliva.
• Scheduling frequent dental appointments.

A Damaged or Chipped Tooth

Tooth cracks, chips, or breaks can occur to anyone, especially those involved in contact sports like rugby and basketball. Common causes of tooth cracks or chips include:

• Teeth grinding.
• Chewing hard food.
• Abrupt temperature changes in your mouth.
• Aging.

While a minor chip on your teeth is only a cosmetic concern, an extensive crack or fracture could require a dental appointment for treatment. Even what you see in the mirror as a minor chip or crack could be large enough to affect the health of your tooth.

Unfortunately, you will not know that if you do not schedule an appointment with your dentist for a close examination. If something unusual occurs in your mouth, including a tooth chip, the rule of thumb is to contact a dentist.

Tooth Erosion

Like tooth decay, tooth erosion occurs when dietary acids released by mouth bacteria cause your enamel (the outer, harder surface of your teeth) to wear away. Diets high in acids and sugars can promote and accelerate tooth enamel erosion. If you have a dry mouth problem, you could also be at high risk of tooth erosion because you do not have enough saliva to wash away the acids in your mouth.

While you can prevent tooth erosion by eating a balanced diet to strengthen your teeth, you should consult with a dentist when you detect signs of tooth erosion, including:

• Discolored tooth.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold beverages and foods.
• Teeth that appear shorter than others.
• Sharp edges on your tooth.

Fortunately, tooth erosion is a treatable dental issue, especially when you detect it in its early stages. When you schedule an appointment with your dentist, he/she can help you determine the source of the acid causing the erosion and offer appropriate treatment.

To treat this issue and prevent its progression, your dentist could recommend the application of fluoride varnish on the surface of your teeth to remineralize and strengthen them. Your dentist can also treat the issue by applying bonding material to the affected tooth to stop the progression of the problem.

Impacted Teeth

Having impacted teeth is another reason to see a dentist as soon as possible to avoid other problems in the future. Impacted teeth problems occur when there is insufficient space in your mouth to accommodate erupting teeth, making them move up against each other.

Aside from causing teeth overcrowding and being a cosmetic issue, impacted teeth can put you at risk of infection because it is challenging to brush around them effectively. When left untreated, impacted teeth can also cause jaw pain and damage adjacent healthy teeth. To avoid these issues, consult your dentist when you notice an impacted tooth.

Depending on the affected tooth and the severity of the condition, your dentist could recommend the use of eruption aids or the removal of the tooth that is blocking it through surgery.

Loose Teeth

While loose teeth are typical for children and teenagers, noticing that you have a loose tooth as an adult is an issue of concern. The problem of loose teeth in adults mostly occurs when your tooth loses support and slowly detaches from the gums and bones supporting it.

When you have a loose tooth, even the slightest touch with your finger can move it, and chewing food can worsen the problem. If you have a loose tooth, it is common to experience the following symptoms:

• Swollen gums.
• Red gums.
• Bleeding gums.
• Gum recession.

These symptoms could be a sign of other dental and oral health problems. Therefore, discussing these symptoms with your dentist as soon as you can would be wise to receive the necessary treatment and prevent the worsening of the problem. While a loose tooth could be due to other issues, like injury and teeth grinding, advanced gum disease is the main culprit for this problem.

When left unchecked, gum disease can progress, leading to bone deterioration and loosening or loss of the affected tooth. If the cause of your loose tooth is gum disease, your dentist can treat the problem through a special dental cleaning procedure known as scaling and root planing to remove the plaque on the surface of your tooth and gum line.

Antibiotics could also help kill the bacteria, making your teeth detach from your gums and accelerate the healing process after the scaling and root planing procedure.

Receding Gums

As the name suggests, receding gums occur when your gums pull away from your teeth, making some teeth appear longer than others. Below are some of the common causes of receding gums:

• Hormonal changes.
• Insufficient dental care.
• Aggressive tooth brushing.
• Genes.
• Gum disease.
• Tobacco products.
• Misaligned or crooked bite.

When you experience any of the following signs and symptoms, chances are you have receding gums:

• Bleeding after brushing your teeth.
• Swollen or red gums.
• Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks.
• Exposed tooth roots.

Most people will notice that they have receding gums because this problem occurs gradually. If you notice that some of your teeth appear longer than others or experience the above symptoms, consult a dentist. Luckily, the issue of receding gums is treatable and reversible, especially when detected early.

Deep teeth cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing procedure, could be necessary to remove plaque buildup on the surface of your tooth and root surfaces below your gum line, preventing the progression of this issue. Antibiotics can also help kill the remaining harmful bacteria after the deep cleaning procedure for the healthy gums that you deserve.

If deep cleaning is not ideal for your gum recession issue due to severe bone loss or the pockets formed by this condition are too deep, your dentist could recommend gum surgery. Gum surgery can help restore the integrity and density of the affected bone and repair other damages caused by the recession.

Stained Teeth

Stained teeth, ranging from mild yellowing to severe and conspicuous discoloration of black or brown, is a common dental issue that you or your loved one could experience at some point in his/her lifetime.

Aside from being a cosmetic issue that affects your smile's appearance and confidence, stained or discolored teeth can create an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Whether your teeth stain is caused by tobacco, medications, or certain foods like leafy greens, speaking to your dentist about the issue is a great idea.

While you can whiten your teeth at home using gel and a plastic tray, in-office teeth whitening can give you the smile makeover you deserve for a brighter smile. Sometimes, stained teeth could also be a sign of infection or decay, especially if they appear black. In these cases, it is crucial to have the teeth examined by a dentist to identify the cause of the issue and offer the necessary treatment.

White Spots

White spots on your teeth are also a sign or indicator that you should visit your dentist. Characterized by their conspicuous milky-white color, these scattered white spots on your teeth could indicate underlying issues with your teeth' enamel, like caries. Below are four (4) primary causes of white spots on your teeth:

• Demineralization.
• Turner's tooth.
• Fluoridation.
• Orthodontic treatment.

Teeth whitening, paste with milk proteins, dental veneers, and fillings are some ways your dentist can address white spots on your teeth, especially if they are a cosmetic concern.

Missing Teeth

Aside from being a cosmetic concern, a missing tooth will leave a gap between your teeth, affecting your ability to chew food. Whether your missing tooth was due to an injury, disease, aging, or any other reason, replacing it as soon as you can is vital for several reasons, including:

• Preservation of bone volume.
• Improved chewing.
• Prevention of the surrounding teeth from shifting out of their ideal alignment.

To replace your missing tooth, your dentist could recommend any of the following treatment methods:

• Partial dentures.
• Dental implant.
• Dental bridge.

The specific treatment method your dentist will choose to replace your missing tooth will depend on your interests and what led to the loss of that tooth.

Take Away Notes

While these dental problems are issues to worry about, you can prevent them if you do the following:

• Brush your teeth every day.
• Avoid using or smoking tobacco-related products.
• Floss everyday.
• Visit your dentist after every six (6) months for routine check-ups and exams.

Find a Dentist Near Me

Waiting to receive dental treatment is never a wise idea because most dental issues worsen with time when left untreated. If you have any of the above dental problems, our reliable team of dentists at Beach Dental Care Anaheim would be glad to help restore the health of your teeth and the smile you deserve.

Call us at 714-995-4000 to discuss your unique dental problem with our skilled and experienced dentists as soon as possible.