What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of Tooth Decay?

Your teeth are protected by enamel. This is the shiny coating that surrounds each tooth. If the acid levels in your mouth get too high, it can start to break down the enamel. This is known as tooth decay.

Over time, this process can lead to cavities. The tooth might even have to be removed. Thankfully, if you catch tooth decay early enough, you will be able to avoid these unpleasant symptoms. Here are some of the things you should be looking for.

Tooth Sensitivity

One of the clearest signs of tooth decay is sensitivity. There are a few ways this might manifest. Sometimes, you will experience a toothache. This might be a sharp pain, without any obvious cause. At other times, there could be continuous dull pain.

Another option is that tooth sensitivity can create pain when you are chewing, often as you are biting into the food. Sometimes, there might be an unpleasant tingling or a sharp pain when you are drinking hot or cold beverages. You might also notice some sensitivity when you are eating foods that are high in sugar. This can linger for a few moments.

Tooth Discoloration

It’s also possible that tooth decay can create discoloration. At first, these stains will start as a white dot. But as you age, the spots will darken. This can result in brown marks appearing on your teeth.

Bad Breath

You might notice bad breath starting to emerge. This might be caused by bacteria in the gums. It can be an indicator of gum disease.

Cavities Starting To Form

As tooth decay progresses, it will cause cavities to emerge. These will start as small holes in your tooth. You might be able to feel these by running your tongue over your teeth.

When they first emerge, these holes tend to be relatively small. But the longer they remain, the larger the cavity will grow. Over time, this can lead to pain as the nerve endings in the teeth become damaged. Sometimes, this can force your dentist to perform a root canal. At other times they will have to remove the tooth.

When To Talk To Your Dentist

There are a few signs that you might need to seek help from your Hornsby dentist. These include sensitivity in your teeth lingering for between 24 to 48 hours. You should also book a consultation if you experience a toothache, pain when chewing, or can feel a cavity.

It should be noted that sometimes tooth decay can occur without any symptoms. Because of this, it’s best to book a check-up with your dentist every six months. This will allow them to monitor your oral health and clear any plaque build-ups. Plus, they will be able to catch small cavities as they are emerging. This will stop them from becoming a major problem, saving you a lot of time and money in the long term.

Conclusion

The symptoms of tooth decay can be subtle and easy to overlook, at first. But the longer you ignore the signs, the worse the problem will become. In some cases, tooth decay can become so advanced that dentists will need to remove the tooth. Getting regular check-ups each month is a simple way of preventing serious oral health problems.