When Your Next Dental Appointment Can’t Wait
People avoid the dentist for lots of reasons: busy schedules, phobias, worries about costs, and more. If you’ve been putting off a dental exam for one reason or another, you’re not alone. According to a poll from the American Dental Association, only 58% of people report visiting the dentist annually.
However, regular dental visits are essential to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Letting your oral hygiene visits go for too long may have some pretty serious side effects. If you’re experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, you should schedule an exam right away.
5 Signs That You Urgently Need Dental Care
1. Oral Pain
Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t right. Any pain or sensitivity in your gums or teeth can indicate a variety of dental problems. You could have periodontal disease, tooth decay, an abscess, receding gums, or another serious issue.
Don’t simply mask the pain with over-the-counter gels. Schedule an appointment to get the underlying problem diagnosed and resolved with proper treatment.
2. Persistent Bad Breath
More serious concerns than spicy food can cause chronic bad breath (also called halitosis). If you’ve been struggling to keep your breath smelling fresh, you could have an infection or another oral health problem.
3. Mouth Sores
Mouth sores—especially those that don’t heal or go away—can be a sign of a serious oral health problem, such as HPV or even oral cancer.
4. Morning Headaches and/or Jaw Pain
Frequent headaches or jaw pain are symptoms of sleep bruxism (grinding teeth or clenching the jaw while asleep). A dentist can help you find ways to address bruxism, protect your teeth, and relieve the pain.
5. Bleeding Gums
If your gums are red, swollen, or tend to bleed whenever you brush or floss, this may indicate periodontal disease.
Left unaddressed, this bacterial infection of the gums and bone can have serious consequences. In addition to tooth loss and oral pain, it can lead to blood infections and a whole host of general health problems.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Dentists in Orange, CA
If you’re experiencing oral pain, have any of the above-listed symptoms, or if it’s been a year or longer since your last dental visit, then it’s time to make an appointment.
We welcome you to contact Dr. Christopher J. Fotinos Cosmetic & General Dentistry to schedule a dental cleaning, X-rays, and exam today.
