We all know and understand the importance of regular dentist visits and yet it is surprising how many adults in particular are reluctant to visit their Dublin dentist until things become so bad that they absolutely have to.
In most cases, the same symptoms and the same problems crop up time and time again which with regular appointments could be avoided. Here are some of the most common problems that bring patients to the dentist’s door.
Toothache
Don’t just ignore this; if you suddenly experience a toothache, or if it comes on over a period of time, toothache is a sure sign that something is going wrong. Make an appointment as soon as possible to find out the cause and put it right.
Sore and/or Inflamed Gums
This can be indicated by redness in the gums and soreness especially when brushing your teeth. Inflammation can arise from poor dental hygiene, a build-up of dental plaque or brushing your teeth too vigorously. Whatever the cause, if you ignore this problem it can only get worse and can leave you with long-term and irreversible consequences.
Sensitive Teeth
This can sometimes be caused by tooth decay or by receding gums. Your teeth can become ultra-sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, to spicy foods and even to brushing. This is another problem that rarely goes away on its own and can have far-reaching effects on your day to day life so make that appointment earlier rather than later.
Bad Breath or Dry Mouth
These two things sometimes, but not always, go together. Occasionally a dry mouth can be the result of dehydration or snoring, which itself can sometimes be caused by problems within the mouth and throat. Bad breath could be a sign of something called gingivitis which is inflammation of the gums often resulting from bacterial infection. Left untreated this could develop into periodontitis. Both are serious, and both can lead to tooth loss so need to be treated as soon as possible.
Morning Headaches
Aside from a hangover a common reason for having a headache first thing in the morning could be that you are grinding your teeth in the night (commonly known as Bruxism) whilst sleeping. To avoid this and permanent damage to the teeth your dentist can make a mouth guard for you to use at night.
Pain in the Mouth or Jaw
There are several different reasons for why you could be experiencing pain within the mouth. A broken or misaligned tooth could be rubbing on the inside of your mouth eventually leading to an ulcer or inflammation of the soft tissue. This can fairly easily be treated by filing down any sharp edges of the tooth or by realigning the tooth.
People who suddenly experience excruciating pain in the jaw will more often than not present themselves in the dentist’s surgery with an abscess. This is caused by a bacterial infection often in the gum or within a tooth cavity and results in intense pain as well as bad breath.
Broken, Loose and Lost Teeth and Fillings
Fillings can become loose and fall out. Teeth can break through biting into something hard or through accident. Crowns and veneers can eventually become loose, break or fall out altogether. If any of these happen you will need to book an emergency appointment to repair the issue and restore your smile.
Many of the problems listed above can be avoided with good dental hygiene and regular check-up appointments with your dentist. Don’t simply put up with things; visit your dentist as soon as a problem starts.