SIGNS YOUR TEETH AREN’T AS HEALTHY AS YOU THINK THEY ARE

No matter what age you are, you want a healthy smile. However, it’s not easy to tell when your teeth aren’t at their best even if you take a close look at them in the mirror. Without the help of a dentist, dental decay, gum disease and cavities are near impossible to self-diagnose. Today, we want to share with you early warning signs your teeth aren’t as healthy as you think they are.

You Constantly Have Bad Breath

Bad breath is common, but it shouldn’t be a regular thing. Bad breath, also know as ‘halitosis’, is an early warning sign of gum disease. It’s a byproduct of not brushing your teeth and flossing on a regular basis, as that leads to the development of plaque and bacteria on teeth and gums. In turn, that will lead to inflammation and bleeding of the gums.

Other things that may cause bad breath are sinus issues and stomach problems. While they are not tied directly to bad oral hygiene, it’s important to recognize what’s causing your bad breath and to reconcile it as soon as possible.

Your Tongue is Whiter than it is Pink

Did you know your tongue is entirely muscle? It’s true! What’s also true is your tongue can turn many different colors depending on what you have recently eaten. One color you don’t want your tongue to be is white.

If your tongue is whiter than it is pink, that means bacteria has built upon the surface of it. Not only can this lead to bad breath and gum inflammation, but it can also lead to mouth and tongue sores. When you brush your teeth, remember to also use the small scraper on the back of your toothbrush to give your tongue a deep scrubbing and rid your mouth of tongue bacteria.

Food Is Always Stuck Between Your Teeth

It’s an awful feeling to get food stuck between your teeth. It’s an even worse feeling when you realize food stuck between your teeth is the biggest sign of a growing cavity. Even if you are brushing and flossing as you should be but feel like you’re always picking between your teeth after meals, you’re probably dealing with a hidden cavity.

Your best case to deal with frequent food stuck between your teeth is to visit your dentist. They can identify if you do, in fact, have a cavity or another dental issue. It’s also in your best interest to pick up flossing daily as well to clean out any bacteria that may erode the sides of your teeth.

Your Gums Bleed While Brushing Your Teeth

As your brushing your teeth, the last thing you want to see is blood coming off on your toothbrush. It’s a clear sign sent out by your gums in distress. Healthy gums will not bleed when you lightly touch them, on the other hand inflamed gums will. In you see any signs of pink in the sink after brushing your teeth and rinsing out your mouth don’t just ignore this problem and expect it to go away. Look in the mirror and identify where in your mouth you are bleeding from. Once you’ve done so, go ahead and get in touch with your dentist so they can help you rectify this situation.

There Are White Patches On Your Teeth

A visible sign you are developing a cavity is the sight of white patches on your teeth. White spots indicate an issue with the enamel protecting your teeth, whether it be weakening or porosity. Oftentimes this happens on the backside of your teeth, which makes the issue hard to identify. For some people though, this problem will appear on the front of their teeth. If you find any white spots on your teeth that don’t go away after brushing your teeth once, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can.

Your Teeth Appear Darker Over Time

Dental problems don’t always start with improper oral hygiene. Sometimes it’s a nerve problem that you never knew you had. This is the result of events such as contact sports or knocking your teeth into something. The nerve inside a single tooth is overly sensitive and is easily damaged if the tooth sustains blunt trauma. Over time, the nerve will die out and cause a tooth to appear darker than its counterparts.

There isn’t a simple remedy to this problem. If you notice one or more of your teeth are a darker color than the rest, contact your dentist, even if the teeth in question don’t hurt. Waiting too long to have a dentist look at the problem can lead to the loss of those teeth for good.

Hot and Cold Drinks Are Hurting Your Teeth

Much like you, your teeth have feelings. If you notice your teeth start to numb when in contact with a hot or cold drink, it’s a tell-tale sign that tooth has a cavity. How long that tooth remains sensitive after coming into contact with an extreme liquid temperature is a solid indication of how severe your problem is. Don’t confuse this with a couple seconds after drinking, as that’s a natural trigger. We’re talking about minutes to possible hours of tooth sensitivity. Contact your dentist when you’re able to and see if it is necessary to come into the office and have them check it out.

See Any Signs? Visit Dental Care of Riverside!

We’ve gone over some of the simplest signs that are early indicators of tooth troubles to come. It may not seem like much but ignoring any of the above can lead to bigger problems such as dental caries, tooth loss and gum recession. Don’t let that happen to you. For all your dental health needs, get in touch with Dental Care of Riverside today online or by phone at (951) 666-8998.