Most people will end up with a cavity before they enter adulthood. Even though you are regularly brushing your teeth and taking good care of your mouth, they can still happen to you. Some people are more susceptible to acquiring cavities as opposed to others, and some people can even manage to go their whole life without a single cavity. Cavities do not mean that you aren’t taking proper care of your teeth, it can just be bad luck or how the interior of your mouth is set up. Here are three warning signs to look for if you think you may have a cavity that needs a general dentist.
Pain or Tenderness
The biggest warning sign to look for is pain when a tooth comes into contact with anything else. This is also the easiest symptom to spot because your tongue touches your teeth constantly throughout the day, thus giving you the earliest warning that something is wrong with that tooth. The level of tenderness may vary from person to person. Some people can even bear to brush their tooth if they have a cavity, while others may only experience pain while eating hard or crunchy foods. Tooth pain does not always mean that the tooth has a cavity, but if you are experiencing pain, it is best to go to a general dentist and have them look at it.
Temperature Sensitivity
Another sign to look for is sensitivity to temperatures. Most of the time people note that they had sharp, shooting pain in their tooth with the cavity while eating or drinking cold foods. The nerves in your tooth are very sensitive when you have a cavity and can discern the difference between temperatures in the foods you are eating. While it is most common to feel pain with the colder temperatures, you can still be sensitive to warm foods as well. It is imperative that you see your dentist if you are experiencing any pain while eating hot or cold foods or beverages.
Darkening of the Tooth
The appearance of small holes or a darkening tooth is also another common indicator that there is something wrong with your tooth. While this is not always the case, sometimes a tooth will develop a small hole on the visible surface, or the tooth will begin to darken as it dies. The hole that the cavity is causing may be too small to even be seen by the naked eye, however, there is usually a hole or a visible spot of decay on your affected tooth; you just might not be able to see it for yourself.
These are just a few of the many signs that indicate you may have a cavity in your mouth. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should go see your general dentist in Anaheim Hills immediately. It is important to make check up appointments with your Smile Magic Dentistry dentist yearly or every six months to ensure your mouth stays healthy. Your dentist will be able to professionally clean your teeth and see if you are developing any cavities or have any teeth that pose a possible threat for developing cavities.