Dentists are your go-to professionals when you’re seeking professional oral care and services. These dental care workers have earned their knowledge and license after years of study and training. Because of these, they are the best people you can trust when it comes to oral health issues, tooth extraction, and other dental services.
While some people would never miss their annual dental check-up and teeth cleaning sessions, others can’t be bothered until a real problem arises. And if you do find yourself in the situations listed below, it’s time to see a good dentist as soon as possible-regardless of whether you just had your regular dental check-up or not.
#1. Persisting Toothache
Cliche as it is, it is always advisable to go to the dentist when your tooth hurts. The dentist would either prescribe a cream or pill to address swelling and pain. In some cases, they may recommend a tooth extraction to make sure the pain doesn’t go back.
If you’re in Blackburn or its nearby areas, you may go to your local dentist Blackburn to know more about how they handle and cure their patient’s toothache. You may also try to read about its various types. For that reason, below are some of the types you may need to be familiar with:
Dull, Continuous Ache
Generally, this pain is caused by a portion of food stuck within a tooth or an abscessed tooth. Either way, it produces so much pain that it induces a grinding feeling. In some cases, this toothache is easily solved by gargling or rinsing. But if the pain is persistent, it’s time to book an appointment with a dentist.
Pain Triggered By Temperature Sensitivity
Sensitive teeth can become painful when exposed to extremely hot or cold temperatures. The common triggers are icy drinks, hot coffee, and cold meat cuts. Typically, these are addressed by using special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. However, if the pain becomes unbearable and more severe, you may need to consult your dentist.
Sharp, Jabbing Pain
Worn dental crowns or loose teeth may cause unbearable and jabbing pain. This worsens when the affected person eats or drinks. When this happens, the person may need to observe whether or not their gums bleed or if they have an unusual taste in their mouth. If the pain persists, it’s best to call a dentist.
#2. Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums, otherwise known as gingivitis, are caused by plaque buildup in the tooth’s base. If ignored, the plaque could lead to the swelling of gums and may continue bleeding. The longer it’s neglected, the higher chance it’d bleed and damage both the gums and teeth.
If your gums and teeth keep bleeding when you brush them, you may need to go to a dentist at the soonest possible time. Not doing so may worsen the problem into a jaw and gum disease called periodontitis.
#3. Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is typically caused by the absence of saliva or the presence of chemicals that make the mouth and its roofless moist. Cancer therapy, drug use, and denture problems may also trigger this issue. When it happens, you may need to consult a doctor as it may affect how you bite, chew, or swallow food.
To prevent dry mouth, avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Avoiding muscle relaxants is also a good habit. Apart from these, your dry mouth may also be caused by inadequate nutrition, aging, yeast infection, and autoimmune diseases. So, aside from seeing a dentist, you may want to consult with a medical doctor as well.
#4. Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are generally caused by viral or bacterial infections. In many cases, dentists could prescribe solutions to relieve pain and speed up the healing. If the sores don’t heal after taking prescriptions, they could mean that they’re more serious than expected, and dentists may make further tests to have detailed findings. The condition could be even severe if it exceeds a couple of weeks or more.
#5. Loose Or Shifting Teeth
Tooth decay and similar dental problems could cause loose and shifting teeth. Some medical conditions, such as gum diseases, also trigger this situation. If you experience these issues, going to the dentist is your best bet to address the problem.
With the advancement of technology, dentists today could consider and recommend the following remedies:
- Root Canal: In this process, the damaged nerve and pulp are removed, and the tooth’s inside is filled.
- Dental Implants: These replacements change the natural yet damaged teeth.
- Apicoectomy: This modern dental practice removes the root-end section of the affected tooth. Like in a root canal procedure, the infected parts are removed and replaced with a small filling. Then the stitched parts start to heal after a few weeks.
6. You Want To Have Or Replace Your Denture
Dentures help people chew and bite their food properly. It’s also a cosmetic necessity since lacking front teeth can affect one’s confidence when meeting or talking with other people. If your dentures get damaged, you better see your dentist or a dental technician and have them fixed or replaced. Not wearing your denture for a long time may affect your jaw’s shape and structure.
If you want to know more about dentures, here are some of the most common types:
- Economy Denture
These dentures are generally cheaper than the other types. They usually need dental adhesives to fit. Over time, they become thinner and more fragile so a replacement might be necessary six months or a year after the first fitting.
- Traditional
This refers to the complete set of dentures worn on top of the gums and replacing natural teeth. Typically, they’re good after two to four months from fitting, depending on the healing and swelling of the gums.
- Partial
This denture fills the gaps in a set of teeth. This is common for people who have lost two or more natural teeth, but not too many to have the complete set. Most of the time, these dentures are colored pink and acrylic-based.
- Immediate
These are also called same-day dentures because they’re worn on the same day the teeth are extracted.
- Custom
Custom dentures are made of better material. They generally fit better and are customized to the needs of the customer.
- Snap-ins
These dentures could be the best in terms of fitting. In many cases, they make use of implants as attachments, so they’re securely placed. Because of this, they’re preferred by old folks who’ve lost all their teeth but still have strong jawbones to anchor on.
- Overdentures
These are removable dentures placed on top of implants or existing teeth. They’re fit to address the particular needs of a person.
#7. Persistent Bad Breath
Many people go to the dentist to find a solution for their bad breath. Typically, they’re prescribed with effective mouthwash and similar solutions. They may even be advised to extract a decaying tooth. In some cases, bad breath can be caused by existing diseases, such as gastrointestinal problems.
Apart from these, bad breath could also be prevented by using special toothpaste and regular dental cleaning. Yet the most effective is still brushing your teeth after every meal, especially when exposed to sweet and starchy food.
#8. Your Jaw Locks Or Aches Severely
If you experience constant pain in your jaws and they tend to lock from time to time, you may need to see a dentist specializing in jaw problems. A traditional dentist could help assess your real condition but may only refer you to other specialists, such as an oral surgeon.
In many cases, the dentists could tell you whether your jaw needs an operation or a minor therapy. This way, you could save money, time, and effort. Your dentist may also need for you to undergo x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging to identify the real problem.
#9. You’re Not Confident With How Your Teeth Look
Now, this is not exactly an emergency, but it is a good option to consider if you want to enhance your look. Many dentists offer other tooth correcting procedures. If you’re not confident with the way your teeth look, you may check the following:
- Veneers: These dental attachments are tiny coverings that help correct poorly shaped and crooked teeth. In some cases, veneers are also placed to lighten discolored teeth.
- Dental Crowns: These are prostheses used in restoring the damaged part of the tooth by keeping up its original shape. Also, they cover dental implants and bridges.
- Dental Cleaning: This refers to the professional removal of tartar and plaque buildup. Generally, people have their teeth cleaned every 6 months for best results.
- Dental Bridges: These refer to the support or connection between implants or crowns to fill the gaps of missing teeth.
Wrapping Up
Dentists are oral health experts who can help you maintain clean, healthy, and good-looking teeth. Apart from this, they ensure that your jaws, gums, tongue, cheeks, and overall oral health condition. Today, dentists could even detect the early signs of serious oral health problems, such as oral cancer.
If you feel awkward about your teeth, cheek, and tongue, but are still undecided to go to a dentist, you may want to reread this article. Aside from toothache, jaw pain, bad breath, and gum problems, you can also trust a dentist to fix crooked teeth or enhance your smile with the right fitting dentures.
