5 Common Signs You Should Definitely Visit the Dentist

Has it been a while since you’ve been to the dentist? Perhaps you’ve been suffering from tooth or gum pain?

There are many signs that it’s time for you to visit the dentist, and they shouldn’t be ignored. Just like most health issues, the longer you put off treatment, the worse the problem becomes. 

When it comes to oral health care, prolonged negligence can lead to a permanent loss of teeth, dangerous infections, and more. We don’t want to see that happen to you. 

Keep reading for five signs that indicate when to see the dentist.

1. Broken or Chipped Teeth

A cracked, broken, or chipped tooth can be painful, especially at the time of the incident. However, just because the initial pain goes away, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet. 

For example, let’s say you bit down too hard on a jaw-breaker candy and chipped a tooth. Not a huge deal, unless there are underlying cracks (which is quite likely). Over time, those cracks will worsen.

Eventually, you could lose a large chunk of your tooth while chewing. This will lead to other oral health concerns down the road. 

2. Cavities

Cavities and tooth decay are two major issues dictating when to visit the dentist. Typically, these issues only get worse, particularly if you eat and/or drink a lot of sugary foods and beverages. 

Visit the dentist to get fillings if you have cavities. If you have decaying teeth, they need to be removed before the rot spreads to the root under the gums. 

3. Oral Pain

Does it hurt when you chew? What about when you consume hot or cold foods and drinks? Do your teeth or gums ever hurt while you’re just sitting there?

All of these are viable signals of when to go to the dentist. You need to identify the causes of tooth pain to understand where your discomfort is coming from. Then, the dentist can remediate the problem.

4. You Haven’t Been to the Dentist in a While

Some of the most common teeth problems and oral health issues are caused by simple negligence. People aren’t always the best at taking care of their teeth and gums, particularly when it concerns going to visit the dentist. 

If it’s been a while since your last trip to the dentist, take the initiative and schedule an appointment. Taking time once every couple of months to get a checkup and a cleaning could save you tons of trouble (and money) down the road. 

5. Misaligned or Crooked Teeth

Another sign to see the dentist you shouldn’t ignore is crooked or misaligned teeth. If these common teeth problems aren’t corrected, they can lead to pain, discomfort, infections, and more down the road.

Crooked and misaligned teeth can make it painful to eat and exceedingly difficult to properly clean your teeth. As such, malnourishment and oral hygiene issues aren’t uncommon side effects.

Is It Time for You to Visit the Dentist?

Are you experiencing any of the issues listed above? If so, we can’t express enough how important it is for you to visit the dentist. Schedule an appointment today with your local dental clinic to start taking care of your oral health issues. 

And if you’re looking for more information, browse through our other articles while you’re here. We have content on everything from personal finances to health and fitness tips.

 

 

 

 

 

Samantha Gaines wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.  

 

 

 

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