A cavity is something you never want your Tampa dentist to say. If you are not brushing and flossing regularly or drinking and eating sugar-heavy foods, your risk for a cavity can be quite high. Keeping up with your at-home oral regiment and scheduling routine cleanings with your Tampa dentist can help prevent cavities, but sometimes it’s too late. Your body will tell you when you’re sick, so can it also tell you when you have a cavity? Here are a few signs to look out for.
Signs of Cavity
The most obvious sign you may have is pain. Persistent oral pain is always cause to see your Tampa dentist, as this is an indicator of issues such as cavities. You may experience pain when your tooth touches another tooth or your tongue, but you may also experience pain when eating. Your tooth is essentially cracked and damaged, so the pain is a good indicator. Depending on the tooth, you may actually be able to see a hole or crack in the tooth, alongside a darker discoloration on the tooth.
If you have a cavity, you may experience bad breath that you cant seem to get rid of. A cavity is a hole in the teeth that is teeming with bacteria, so this is where the smell is emanating from. You want to maintain regular brushing and flossing even when you know a cavity has already formed, to keep the halitosis at bay. With brushing, you may see bleeding and sensitive gums surrounding the tooth in question, but this is because the cavity may be deep within the tooth or even down the gums.
Avoiding cavities can be done with a good diet and a strong oral hygiene routine, but sometimes these things cant be avoided. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible.
