Dentists everywhere know that many serious oral diseases and problems can be avoided with a little bit of effort. Small problems that are left ignored often turn into huge issues later on.
People often find excuses to avoid dentists,
including ignoring minor symptoms that may signal greater underlying problems such as disease. Allowing these small problems to go undetected can quickly spiral out of control, leaving you with cavities, root canals, or missing teeth. It isn’t worth destroying your smile to save a few bucks by ignoring a persistent problem. Here are some seemingly harmless issues that might be more sinister than you think.
Bad Breath
Most people will tell you to just toss back a few mints and spend more time brushing if you have bad breath. Most dentists, however, will ask you several more questions to determine if you’ve just got a garlic fetish or if there are more serious underlying problems.
Halitosis, or bad breath as most people refer to it, can often be a symptom of problems such as gum disease, cavities, and in extreme cases, oral cancer. A couple of days of bad breath is nothing to be alarmed about, but if you find it a persistent, regular problem or have additional symptoms such as tooth aches, bleeding, or other pains, you should seek a professional opinion.
Jaw Pain
Chronic jaw pain is a common symptom of TMJ and teeth grinding. Dentists will tell you that these are two very difficult problems to treat, but leaving them be can result in great damage and even more severe problems in the future. TMJ is when the jaw is misaligned or the bite is incorrect. This can cause a range of issues in addition to jaw pain such as headaches, difficulty chewing, and clicking sounds when the mouth opens and closes.
Sometimes orthodontic devices can assist in correcting the problem, but in other cases surgery might be necessary. Teeth grinding is often the result of stress and often happens while the person is asleep, leaving them unaware of the situation. Grinding wears down the teeth in addition to causing stress and pain on the muscles and bone. Dentists often recommend some relaxation techniques in addition to a mouth guard worn during sleep.
Sores
Sometimes small sores can develop on the sensitive tissues inside the mouth around the gum line and on the inner cheeks. Unless you have bitten or burned your tongue or mouth accidentally, there are several reasons for these cankers to occur. Small, mildly irritating sores will generally disappear harmlessly within a few days. If you have persistent, large, or very painful sores that last several weeks or longer, you’ll want to seek professional assistance.
Bleeding Gums
Dentists are always warning against the dangers of bleeding gums as this is the first sign of gingivitis. If you just picked up your floss after a long period of absence, you can expect a bit of blood for the first few sessions. Switching to stiffer bristled toothbrushes or a new paste can also cause a bit of bleeding at first. Regular and persistent bleeding is a sign of gum disease. The sooner you have it treated the greater your chances of saving your smile and avoiding painful procedures.
