Problems regarding dental issues are not given as much importance as compared to other physical ailments. There have probably been times where a shooting pain or a toothache is felt, but life goes on pretending the problem doesn’t exist. Dental emergencies should not be taken lightly!
Discomforts and pains can lead to something drastic such as infections and tooth decay. This not only affects oral health but in time, if left untreated, can threaten your health and wellbeing overall.
Consulting with professionals in the Hamilton dental office will tell you that just having healthy teeth is not what’s only important. Oral health can affect your ability to smell, taste, and eat, as well as communicate.
Below are indicators that can be classified as a dental emergency that need immediate action to be taken.
Bleeding and inflamed gums: Taking care of your gums is just as important as teeth care.
Bleeding while you brush isn’t normal. It could mean you’re developing gum disease since the most common sign of gum disease is bleeding.
Gum disease at the early stages is known as gingivitis, typically caused by plaque build-up, can be removed by simply scaling it off. If left untreated, it can result in deterioration of gum tissue, bone loss around the teeth eventually leading to loss of teeth.
Signs in your gums to look out for to book an appointment with a dentist at the soonest if they are/have:
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- Swollen and feel spongy
- Inflamed or puffy
- Producing pus and having a bad odor
- They are receding
- Turning bluish-red rather than normal pink
An unusual (mostly bad) taste in the mouth: If you notice a constant bad taste in your mouth and it is not caused by what you ate or drank, it’s your body telling you something bad is going to happen. An infected tooth, respiratory infections (cold or tonsils), gingivitis, or an erupting wisdom tooth can result in a persistently foul taste in your mouth wisdom teeth erupting.
What causes the nasty taste is the toxins being emitted from the infection. For women, if there is a metallic taste, it can be a side effect of hormonal changes and medication. If the foul taste continues to stay you need to book an appointment with your dentist.
Constant bad breath
Bad breath can be very embarrassing and could also result in more serious health issues. If you maintain good oral hygiene such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, etc and it still isn’t improving your breath, there may be a bigger problem at hand.
Constant bad breath can be a sign of a number of things such as infections, gum disease, metabolic disorders like diabetes, acid reflux, or even cancer. Whether the bad breath is something you personally face or is a symptom of something more serious, your dentist can give you personalized suggestions that will help.
Sores and bumps
Biting your tongue or eating a fruit that brings about a reaction can cause mouth sores. Normal sores clear up in about 1 or 2 weeks on their own. But if they last for more than that you should visit a dentist and get their opinion as oral lesions need to be treated.
Cold sores, a fungal infection called thrush, or candidiasis, canker sores, and leukoplakia are some possible signs of a bigger problem, they show up as white sores on the inner cheek, tongue, and roof of your mouth. People who have diabetes are inclined to get thrush, as it flourishes on the saliva’s high sugar levels.
Apart from maintaining good oral health, frequent dental check-ups are crucial as it also presents issues in their early stages to your dentist. If you’re experiencing swelling, bleeding, pain, or unusual symptoms you need to visit a dentist right away.
