Your oral health is connected to your physical health. When you ignore signs of cavities, gum disease, or an infected tooth, that can lead to more serious problems. That’s why it’s important to visit the dentist every six months for regular dental checkups. We not only clean your teeth and gums, but we also check for these types of issues. However, problems can still arrive between appointments. We’re discussing a few dental health symptoms that you don’t want to ignore:

  1. Toothache

If your tooth hurts, that could be a sign of an infection, a chipped or cracked tooth, or a food particle that is trapped in your gums. If ignored, an infection can lead to tooth loss or gum disease. It may also be a sign of other concerns, such as teeth grinding habits or a crown or bridge has come loose. When you visit us, we’ll do an exam to get to the root of the problem and we’ll discuss the best path to healing.

  1. Swollen, red, or bleeding gums.

These are symptoms of gum disease you don’t want to ignore. It’s usually a sign of gum disease, so you’ll want to visit us right away. When left untreated, gum disease can lead to more serious problems like tooth loss. It also increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. Our gum disease treatment includes scaling and root planing which restores the health of your gums.

  1. Loose teeth

If you have loose or wobbly teeth, it’s usually a sign of gum disease in its advanced stages. When you do not practice good oral hygiene habits, this can lead to an infection in the gum area and eventually lead to tooth loss if you don’t receive treatment. However, if you’ve had any sort of trauma to your mouth, you may be showing signs of dental damage that need addressing. In that case, our restorative care options can give you back your smile. We may also recommend a mouthguard if your dental trauma is a result of playing sports.

  1. Bad Breath or Dry Mouth

If you have bad breath, it could be caused by the foods you eat and a lack of regular brushing and flossing. However, if the issue persists, you may be dealing with gum disease, cavities, or plaque buildup. Dry mouth can also cause breath problems as well. We’ll perform an exam of your mouth and help you identify the best solution to your bad breath or dry mouth problems. If it’s a sign of a cavity or infection, we’ll treat the infection and give you back your healthy smile.

  1. Unusual sores, lumps, or reddish or white patches in your mouth

If you have a sore that won’t heal, unusual lumps, or reddish or white patches in your mouth, you may be showing signs of oral cancer. It’s essential to pay attention to warning signs like these because the sooner you treat the disease, the easier it is to recover. During your exam, we do a check for signs of oral cancer. However, if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, it’s important you schedule an exam right away. We’ll make sure your oral health is at its best and work with you on addressing any issues that arise. 

If any of these dental health symptoms look familiar, we look forward to working with you on getting your oral health back on track. Your smile matters to us and we want you to enjoy a healthy grin for a lifetime. Call Reedley Dental Care today at 559-315-4109 for an appointment. You can also request an appointment online.