Introduction:
In most of the population, work-related pressure, family, and so many other things make it difficult to find time for routine dental checkups. But missing out on routine dental checkup may lead to profound complications. Regular dental checkups mean early detection of problems that will help prevent any further proceeding to complicated dental procedures, and early detection will be pocket-friendly. On the other hand, people do not realize that it is a sign that we should go to the dentist and get it treated. So let’s go through a few signs that are alarming signs when one should visit a dentist.
What Are Some Alarming Signs That Require Seeing a Dentist?
1. Black Spot on Teeth - Black spot on teeth is a sign of a carious tooth that needs dental treatment before decay increases and destroys the whole tooth.
2. Pain - Pain may be in gums, teeth, in and around your face, neck, or mouth region. Do not ignore any kind of pain. Pain in the gums or periodontal ligament is a sign of infection and inflammation of the gingiva, and that needs to be taken into consideration. Professional scaling and root planing will be needed, and medications will be prescribed by the dentist to clear the infection. Toothache or pain is a sign of progressive decay or caries that are approaching the pulp of the teeth. Caries that are approaching pulp should be treated as soon as possible before it causes gross decay of the tooth substance. One thing everyone should keep in mind is that tooth pain or tooth decay will not get better on its own. So it is mandatory to go and get your dental checkup done when it is paining on chewing, or there is swelling in any of the orofacial regions.
3. Puffy or Bleeding Gums - Do you see blood when biting on an apple? Do you have gum bleeding while brushing your teeth? Do you have red fiery puffy gums? Are your gums pulling away from the tooth surface? All these are signs of gingival and periodontal diseases that need attention. Swelling, inflammation, and infection of the gingiva are called gingivitis. It is because of infection and inflammation of the gums.
Infection means there is colonization of bacteria in that gingival area. Plaque is the harboring site for that bacterias. To cure this condition, one needs to see a dentist. It is not a serious condition, but if left untreated, it leads to periodontitis, which means infection and inflammation of the periodontal ligament. In advanced stages of periodontitis, the gingiva gets pulled away from the tooth, and tooth mobility increases and may lead to tooth loss. So one needs to visit the dentist if you see any of these signs before the gingival situation progresses to an advanced stage.
4. Bad Breath - Bad breath is also known as halitosis. Halitosis is a sign of an unhealthy mouth and is like a social stigma. The reason for bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush regularly or properly, then there will be the colonization of bacterias in gums around teeth and on the tongue. Improper or lack of brushing leads to plaque accumulation on teeth as a result of food degradation, and that becomes a site of bacterial growth and ultimately leads to many diseases, but along with that comes the problem of bad breath. So see a dentist and get advice on how to improve oral hygiene.
5. Metallic Taste - Metallic taste is a bloody taste, this comes in various medical conditions, and because of medicines, often we get a metallic taste in the mouth. There are some physiological conditions because of which often we get a metallic taste, such as women during their first trimester of pregnancy often get a metallic taste in the mouth. But in pathological conditions such as bleeding gums or gingivitis and periodontitis, there will be a metallic taste in the mouth on a regular basis.
6. When You Try to Hide Your Smile - When you are self-conscious about forwardly placed teeth or irregularly placed teeth or missing teeth and feeling ashamed while smiling because of teeth, then you should go and visit a dentist or orthodontist to get it corrected. Nowadays, there are a number of options for smile corrections. Missing tooth or teeth may be a reason for your awkward smile, but apart from this, it may lead to bone resorption and many more further complications. So better to see a dentist and get a good confident smile for a socially active life.
7. Past Dental Work Done - If you have done any dental work in the past, then you should go and get it checked at regular intervals of times, as it is important to make sure that work done in the past is holding up good and not ending up in doing some more work in future.
8. Ongoing Systemic Issues - It is a well-known fact that your mouth is a reflection of your systemic health as they show signs and symptoms when either of them is affected. If you have any systemic issues like diabetes, hypertension, and kidney-related disorders, these systemic disorders will impact dental and associated soft tissue health. So your oral cavity needs equal attention when you are dealing with other systemic problems.
9. Dry Mouth or Dry Lips - If you are feeling dryness of your mouth and lips, that needs to be taken into consideration as it may be due to various other reasons such as side effects of medications you are taking, which may spell dental problems if left untreated.
10. When You Are Pregnant - Females get gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which will have an adverse effect on gingival conditions. There is gingivitis and bleeding gums during pregnancy because of hormonal changes. The first and second trimesters are safe to get dental treatment done, so any caries or decay, scaling, or other dental issues should be taken care of in the first two trimesters. So it is important to see a dentist when you are pregnant.
11. Any Adverse Habit - If you have any adverse habit of tobacco chewing, smoking, or alcohol consumption, you will need a more regular dental checkup. These habits increase the chances of tooth decay, and moreover, these adverse habits could be a cause for more serious and life-threatening conditions.
12. Children with Thumb Sucking or Mouth Breathing or Tongue Thrusting Habits - Children with thumb sucking or mouth breathing or tongue thrusting habits can cause malocclusion and may lead to altered dentofacial growth, so early diagnosis and treatment of it are very important.
13. Cross Bite - Crossbite in any dentition period is harmful. In a normal situation, maxillary teeth overlap the mandibular teeth. But in the crossbite case, it is vice versa. Crossbite may be in the anterior or posterior region of dentition. It leads to restriction of growth of maxilla along with dental malalignment when in primary dentition and left untreated. Crossbite is considered a dental emergency, so it needs to be addressed as early when noticed.
14. Over Retained Deciduous Teeth - When there are over-retained deciduous teeth in the mouth even after the eruption of a permanent successor, then that over-retained deciduous teeth should be extracted before it causes any malalignment of permanent teeth. So it is time you need to go and see a dentist.
15. You Have Jaw Pain or Headache in Morning after Getting up - When you are feeling continuous pain near your temple region, or your jaw is paining, then there are chances that you may be grinding your teeth at night that planning is you have a habit of bruxism. Bruxism needs to be treated by a dentist to prevent further dental destruction and to reduce pain.
16. Sensitivity of Teeth - If your teeth are in pain when taking cold or hot beverages, it is due to sensitivity. Sensitivity may be because of thinning of enamel or maybe because of gum recession. Even mild sensitivity needs proper attention to prevent further progression of the problem.
17. Soreness or Swelling - The roof of your mouth is very delicate, so it can wear and tear easily. Some areas of swelling can be a result of biting your tongue or eating foods that are too hot for the roof of your mouth. Mouth sores usually are not very serious, but in rare cases, they can be a symptom of mouth cancer. You must make an appointment if the soreness and swelling in your mouth last for more than several days.
18. Any Proliferative Growth or Lumps and Bumps - When you notice any kind of growth on the tongue or gums or cheeks, then you should go and get it screened. Most of the time, it is painless and maybe because of continuous irritation, but sometimes there might be a hidden dangerous cause, so it is better to get it checked.
19. White Spot or Patches on Teeth or Soft Tissues - White spots on teeth maybe because of accumulation of calculus. It may be because of fluorosis that is an excess of fluoride that appears as a white patch on teeth. The white lesion maybe because of oral thrush or candidiasis, it is an opportunistic fungal infection, and it needs to be taken into consideration on an urgent basis. White sore patches on oral mucosa might be because of ulcers, vitamin deficiency, or any other cause that needs to be evaluated.
20. It Is Time for Dental Check-up - Even if you do not have any symptoms or do not have any dental problems, a dental visit every 6 months should be made.
Conclusion:
Forthcoming problems are easier to catch in earlier stages, and they are also less expensive when treated in the initial stages. So, reach a dentist when you find any signs and symptoms.
