Brush your teeth every day, and keep the dentist at bay.
We couldn’t help but start with this cliché statement that talks about dental health in a poetic way. The statement needs recognition, not just because it represents the general perception of the majority of people of the term “dental health” but also because of the incompleteness and inaccuracy this statement carries.
For most people, taking good care of their teeth only means brushing them once or twice every day and nothing else. While brushing your teeth every day is one of the most basic things you can do to take care of your teeth, it is not sufficient.
Almost everyone who is reading- and will read- this blog brushes their teeth regularly. And yet more than half of those people are here only because they are suffering from an oral problem. Brushing your teeth regularly, it seems, is not enough.
Your teeth need a little care from you, just like the rest of your body, and if you neglect them by indulging in unhealthy habits, they will start complaining.
If you have noticed that your teeth are troubling you, it’s time to do something about it. Read on to learn about ten warning signs that your teeth need extra attention.
Tooth Pain
Of course, each of us has experienced pain in one or more teeth at some point in our lives. Tooth pain can occur due to a host of reasons, most of which are a consequence of persistent carelessness on your part.
Persistent, sharp, or intermittent pain in one or more teeth while eating or without eating is often a sign of an underlying dental problem that might range from tooth decay and dental abscess to a seemingly unrelated condition like sinusitis.
In either case, a continuous toothache signifies that you need to pay extra attention.
Bad Breath
While bad breath can occur if you don’t brush your teeth regularly or after you eat a meal of onions, it might also be a sign that you are not taking good care of your mouth.
It is not always a sign of concern if you have foul-smelling breath after eating such foods. But persistent or recurring bad breath can result from an issue with your gums. It can also arise from the buildup of plaque. To keep your gums healthy and teeth free of plaque, brush with fluoride toothpaste and drink lots of water.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are no new struggle. They often accompany several dental problems, including gum diseases (such as gingivitis or periodontitis), vitamin deficiency, and platelet deficiency.
If your gums bleed while eating hard fruits like apples or guavas, you can be sure that your gums need to be taken care of more properly. A lack of certain vitamins, such as Vitamin C and K, can lead to weak gums.
To prevent and stop bleeding gums, brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush, increase your vitamin intake, and rinse your mouth regularly with salt water.
Loose Tooth
If your tooth is slowly losing its grip with the gums more and more, it is a sign that you have been very, very careless about your dental health.
Our teeth (not the milk teeth) are here to last with us for a lifetime. But if one of your teeth is on the verge of leaving you at a young age, it means that your gums are losing their strength. It can also be an indication of advanced gum disease. It’s best to talk to your dentist for further steps.
Dry Mouth
The condition of dry mouth, or xerostomia, happens when your mouth doesn’t get the required amount of saliva from your salivary glands. Due to a dry mouth, you can experience other conditions such as bad breath, cracked lips, and difficulty swallowing.
A dry mouth doesn’t relate to a dental concern in most cases. Causes of dry mouth can include dehydration, aging, stress, or certain medications. But sometimes, it might arise from an oral infection. See a doctor if you have a dry mouth along with yellowish spots in the inner cheeks and tongue, as it might point to oral thrush.
Tooth Sensitivity
This is another common problem you might face if your teeth are not healthy enough. Tooth sensitivity can be a very discomforting condition wherein you feel sudden, sharp pain while eating hot and cold foods.
Sensitivity develops when the hard outer layer of the teeth- the enamel- wears out. Consequently, the inner sensitive inner layer- the dentin– is exposed to the outer environment. When hot or cold substances come in contact with the dentin, you experience this painful feeling called sensitivity.
Sensitivity can arise due to tooth decay, cavities, or broken teeth. See your dentist without further delay if the pain hinders you from eating.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are painful irritations each of us experiences several times in our lives. While these sores are temporary and can last a few days to weeks, nobody wants them- small or big!
Depending on their type, mouth sores can be white, red, yellow, and sometimes purple. If you get these sores on your lips, inner cheek, gums, tongue, or other parts of your mouth, it is usually a sign of a weakened immune system or B12 deficiency.
However, talk to a doctor if you experience persistent mouth sores that don’t go away.
Receding Gums
Our gums keep our teeth firmly attached to our mouths throughout our lives. But if you notice that your gums are receding, i.e., pulling away from your teeth so that inner portions of your teeth are exposed, it’s time to be serious about your teeth, or else it will be too late.
Receding gums is just one symptom of gum disease. Other symptoms, such as bleeding and swelling gums, loose teeth, and toothache, are also prevalent. Make an appointment with your dentist to diagnose the true cause.
Jaw Problems
Jaw problems can include painful clicking or popping of the jaw, jaw pain, and other related issues affecting your jaw’s movement.
Although popping or clicking of a jaw is quite common, it might need your attention if it is accompanied by pain. A dislocated jaw can be caused by several factors, including crowded teeth. If jaw problems are caused due to crowded teeth, you might experience discomfort while chewing and speech problems.
You might need braces to improve the condition.
Chipped or cavernous teeth
Our teeth are one of the hardest parts of our body. But they can give up if you don’t give up unhealthy eating habits and carelessness.
A weak tooth is prone to get chipped or cracked easily, leading to tooth decay and cavities. If you notice that one or more teeth are developing a cavity or are chipping off slowly, you need to pay extra attention. For starters, stop eating too many hard and sweet foods, such as candies and sweets.
You might also need a dentist to fill the cavities and treat your teeth properly.
Before the end
Before we bring this blog to a close, let’s pay a little more attention to the significance of dental health.
Dental health is as important as the overall health of the body. It is affected by our eating habits and also affects the same. Digestion starts from the mouth, and eating might become a struggle if you suffer from dental discomfort.
If you get any of the conditions mentioned above, understand that your dental health needs extra attention. Share this blog with others to share healthy insights and make smiles look beautiful.
Do you read to improve your lifestyle and care for your dental and overall health? Then make sure to read other health & wellness blogs on our website. It can make the job at hand much easier for you!