5 Dental Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Your overall well-being greatly depends on your dental health. Dental symptoms can be the cause of serious health issues like cancer and heart disease. Learn about dental symptoms that you should not ignore.

1. Tooth Cavities

Tooth cavities form due to the presence of bacteria on your teeth's surface. The bacteria feeds on sugar particles and releases acids. The acids interact with the outer layer of your tooth and cause extensive damage to the enamel.

Most cavities are preventable, but the problem remains widespread. Lack of proper home hygiene and professional dental treatment can cause further issues, such as tooth damage that can result in tooth loss. In some cases, tooth decay can cause an infection that spreads throughout the body.

Consuming foods high in carbohydrates is one of the things that can lead to cavities. Other risk factors include poor dental hygiene.



See a dentist if you think you have tooth cavities. The dentists will examine your teeth and recommend the appropriate treatment.

2. Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth may be an indication of a dental problem. Teeth sensitivity arises when the outermost layer of your tooth peels away. This can be due to decay, receding gums, and other dental issues.

Damage to the outermost layer exposes the dentin layer. The dentin layer contains nerve endings that detect changes in stimuli. Therefore, the nerve endings will react when cold or hot substances touch your teeth. The result is pain and sensitivity.

3. Dry Mouth

Anybody can have a dry mouth, but the condition tends to be more prevalent among the elderly. Multiple factors can lead to a dry mouth. These factors include genetics, medications, and diabetes.

See a dentist if you notice signs of a dry mouth. The dentist will examine your mouth, and along with a current medical history review, the doctor will try to identify the cause of the dry mouth, and suggest a suitable treatment.

Meanwhile, some things you can do to reduce dry mouth are: reduce caffeine intake, stop alcohol and tobacco use, and drink more water. Sucking on a hard candy or chewing sugarless gum can also help solve the problem.

4. Gum Disease

Chronic gum inflamation is called gingivitis, which can lead to bone loss called periodontitis, or periodontal disease. Gum disease refers to an infection of the gums that surround the teeth. Gum disease is a main cause of tooth loss in adults. The condition may also have a connection to heart disease.

Gum disease often appears in the form of bad breath, tooth sensitivity, bleeding gums, and toothache. Gingivitis refers to gum disease in its early stages. Gum diseases can affect anybody, but people over the age of 30 are at a greater risk. Other factors that can increase the risk of gum disease include smoking, dry mouth, and diabetes. 

5. Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a serious health issue that can affect anyone but is more prevalent among older individuals. Treatment for oral cancer is generally much more effective when the condition is diagnosed and treated early.

Several risk factors can increase your chances of developing oral cancer, like excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and certain. Symptoms of oral cancer can include if the mouth has lumps and sores. The inability to move the tongue or chew properly may also indicate the presence of oral cancer.

Regular dental check-ups with oral cancer screenings and radiographs are currently considered the best ways to detect the oral cancer. If a questionable lesion is detected, the dentist will refer the patient to a specialist, such as an oral surgeon or an oncologist.

Dental health is key to overall body health. Therefore, it is important to take oral hygiene measures in order to maintain good dental health. 

If you are experiencing any type of unusual symptom, as described above, please reach out to a qualified dentist, such as Dr. Yulien Cruz-Davis at Cruz Davis Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. The doctor will perform a problem-focused examine on your teeth and oral cavity and recommend the ideal treatment. Contact us for more information. We welcome clients of all language and cultural backgrounds.