By Healthy Living April 14, 2021 - 6:00am

It is essential to understand that if you want to have healthy teeth and gums, you should pay sufficient attention to the condition of your oral cavity. This means that you need to maintain proper oral hygiene, eat healthy foods, drink a sufficient amount of water, and visit your dentist on a regular basis. However, there are some factors that require immediate dental check-ups. In this article, we have gathered seven weighty reasons to visit a dentist right now.

1. You suffer from a toothache
If you have ever experienced a severe toothache, then you probably know how annoying and exhausting it can be. But the main problem is that a toothache is usually caused by an oral issue that requires timely and proper treatment.

Indeed, you can use pain medication or certain home remedies to ease a toothache, but you should understand that they don’t treat the cause of your pain. In this case, it is essential to contact a leading dentist to define and treat the condition that makes your teeth hurt.

2. You have bad breath
Even though there are a lot of factors that can contribute to bad breath, oral issues tend to be the most common cause. The point is that gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral conditions can affect your breath and make it smelly. That’s why it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene and treat all oral issues in time to avoid bad breath and other negative consequences.

3. You have bleeding gums
Many people think that gum bleeding (especially if it occurs during toothbrushing) is harmless and doesn’t require any medical attention. But the truth is that healthy gums shouldn’t bleed, and this issue can occur as a result of developing gum disease. Other signs of gum disease include:
- Red, tender, and swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Gum pockets
- Gum recession
- Toothache
- Loose teeth
- Teeth loss

If you have noticed at least some of these symptoms, you should rush to your dentist immediately. You should understand that gum disease affects not only your teeth and gums but your overall health as well. People with gum disease are more prone to cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, respiratory infections, etc.

4. You have a tooth fracture
A tooth fracture is a quite unpleasant condition that can happen to everyone. Many people break their teeth while gnawing hard objects, playing sports, or during an accident. If the fracture is small, you may not experience any pain but significant fractures can be extremely painful. In any case, you need to visit your dentist for an exam and treatment if needed.

5. You have a cavity
Tooth decay, also known as cavities or caries, is one of the most common conditions that affect people. There is a common misconception that tooth decay affects only children and people with a sweet tooth but the reality is that both children and adults can develop a cavity.

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth produce acids that wear out your tooth enamel. If you eat a lot of sweet, acidic, or junk foods and don’t maintain proper oral hygiene, the number of bacteria in your oral cavity increases dramatically.

6. You have tartar build-up
Tartar is a calcified deposit that occurs when dental plaque on your teeth becomes hard. It often develops near the gum line and between your teeth. In addition to aesthetic issues, a tartar build-up is a perfect place for bacteria. This results in an increased likelihood of tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. To remove tartar accumulation, you can undergo teeth cleaning procedure.

7. You experience increases tooth sensitivity
Increased tooth sensitivity means that your teeth react with pain to various irritants. Some people experience a toothache because of hot or cold foods and drinks while others can experience pain while eating sweets or breathing with cold air.

Your teeth can become sensitive because of enamel erosion, tooth fracture, tooth decay, and gum recession. For example, gum recession is a condition in which your gums shrink and expose the unprotected roots of the tooths. As a result, these roots can hurt when you eat or inhale cold air. During the dental exam, your dentist can define the cause of teeth sensitivity and recommend treatment.

The bottom line
Due to the fact that many oral issues can develop asymptomatically and cause severe consequences, it is essential to undergo a dental check-up regularly. You should understand that it is much easier to treat the condition in the initial stages rather than cope with all complications it can cause.