- You have pain. Pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck can mean a number of things, including dental disease. Toothaches usually indicate a cavity, gum disease, or abscess (infection). You need immediate attention if you have a toothache.
- Your gums are acting up. If your gums are puffy, bleed when you brush or floss, or you have a family history of gum disease, we invite you to visit with you. Gum disease can lead to infection, loss of bone, and even loss of teeth.
- You try to hide your smile. Whether you’re self-conscious about a missing tooth, crowded teeth, or want a brighter smile, don’t be shy about talking to your dentist. Give us a call.
- You’ve had dental work done. If you have had fillings, crowns, dental implants, or dentures, you should see your dentist regularly to make sure your teeth and dental work is in great shape. When we catch problems early we can usually treat it easier.
- You have ongoing medical issues. If you have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, are HIV positive; undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone replacement therapy, we can help you. All of these conditions can affect your teeth.
- You’re pregnant. It is safe to go to the dentist while pregnant. In fact, pregnancy can make some dental problems worse, so don’t miss your regular checkup.
- You’re having trouble eating. Difficulty chewing or swallowing is not normal. Schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.
- You have dry mouth. If your mouth always feels parched, if it is difficult to swallow because of a dry mouth, or if your mouth feels like it is always burning, you need to see us. Dry mouth can cause lots of cavities.
- You use any kind of tobacco. From bad breath to oral cancer, cigarettes and chewing tobacco are harmful to your overall and dental health.
- You’re having jaw pain. If you’re jaw joint pops or clicks, or is painful when you open, close, and chew, or painful when you first wake up in the morning, you need to see a dentist.
- Your mouth has spots and sores. If something doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth, a dentist should check it out. If a sore lasts longer than two weeks it needs to be evaluated without delay. Mouth sores could be something as simple as canker sores, cold sores, irritation from braces or dentures. But it could be something more serious.
- It’s time for your checkup. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, checkups are important because they help identify problems when they are not painful yet, and can prevent problems from developing.
Twelve Signs You Need to See a Dentist
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One of my children recently had a medical complication that could have been addressed earlier if we had known what the symptoms and signs meant. This experience got me thinking about all of the people in our community with early signs or symptoms of dental disease. The following are twelve signs you need to call Cannon Family Dental.