If you’re an adult, you probably had a bad tooth to ruin a good day. You typically know how to tell if you have a cavity. A toothache is generally the first sign that something is wrong with our teeth. The sharp pain and discomfort will usually make having a cavity completely obvious.
Sometimes, we will feel the hole with our tongue as it starts forming on our teeth. Even though most signs of a cavity are easy to notice, you should know how to tell if you have a cavity.
Knowing the symptoms of a cavity and cavity prevention techniques can help avoid painful toothaches and more serious dental problems in the future.
If you have a cavity and live anywhere around Kansas City, Missouri, Dental ER is here for all of your cavity, root canal, wisdom tooth removal, and tooth extraction emergencies. Dental ER knows that the pain from a cavity can be debilitating and can offer immediate and affordable pain relief.
We don’t have to wait until the pain gets unbearable. It’s best to see a dentist when we notice a cavity starts.
However, if you happen to have any tooth emergency on the weekend, some dentists may be unavailable. In cases like this, it’s always best to go see a dentist that offers emergency services.
Read here to know what to do in case of a tooth emergency on a weekend.
What is a cavity in my tooth?
Our teeth are durable. They need to be strong to rip through meat and crunch on harder-to-eat foods, like apples.
Humans eat a lot of seeds and nutty foods. Our teeth help us break through the shells and grind down the nuts. As long as we regularly maintain the inside of our mouth, we can avoid cavities.
Cavities can form in some of the cleanest mouths, so don’t feel ashamed of any dental issues you may have. Cavities start to form when plaque and food are set against a tooth, in the same place, for any amount of time. The bone or calcium will break away and deteriorate. Once the outer coating of the enamel is penetrated, it doesn’t take long for a cavern to appear.
This cavern, or cavity, will need special attention as it constantly fills up with whatever foods we chew on. If we don’t keep these cavities clean, the hole in the tooth will make its way down the root. An exposed root from one of our teeth can cause us excruciating pain.
If you have any questions or concerns about a possible untreated cavity and live in the Kansas City area, call Dental ER today or schedule an appointment online with a Kansas City dentist today.
What are some signs that you have a cavity?
There are things we can do to prevent a cavity from becoming too painful if we can catch it soon enough. If you want to know how to tell if you have a cavity, these are the top six signs that a cavity is starting.
- Tooth discoloration can start to appear.
- Sensitivity to hot and/or cold food and drinks.
- Sugar and Sweets are painful to eat.
- Pressure, redness, or swelling around the gum line.
- Tooth decay stinks and can cause bad breath.
- Severe toothache leading to migraines
Discoloration of the tooth is one of the first signs of tooth decay. White spots on our teeth are signs that the enamel is wearing down. When we notice darker spots, usually brown or black, this is a symptom of tooth decay also.
Tooth decay starts when the tooth enamel completely wears off. If we don’t see any physical signs of a cavity another thing we can watch for is the sensitivity to cold or heat. This can happen while eating and drinking or even just from the air.
Teeth sensitivity can be caused by issues other than tooth decay so it’s best to check with Dental ER to be sure it’s a cavity. Sweet and sugary foods, like candy or soda, can also trigger tooth sensitivity. This tooth pain can be very mild or severe and comes out of nowhere.
Sometimes, we only feel pain when we put pressure on the tooth. When we press on our tooth and feel anything different, we should probably check with a dental professional to be sure that we don’t have a cavity starting.
When we notice that our breath stinks more than normal, it’s a sign that the dental decay process has started. The smell of the cavity can be horrid and is usually a pretty obvious stench.
If you feel you may have tooth abscess, read this blog.
Now that you know how to tell if you have a cavity, hopefully, you can avoid more than just your routine visits to the dentist. To avoid tooth decay, a root canal, dark spots, and sensitive teeth we need to do all we can to prevent cavities.
What to do if you know you have a cavity?
If you notice physical signs of a cavity without any pain, consider yourself lucky and immediately schedule an appointment with Dental ER.
By visually examining our teeth, we should be able to notice either white chalky buildup or dark-colored staining if any decay is starting. We can also use our tongues to feel around for any pits or holes in our teeth.
Getting an x-ray from our dentist is the best way to avoid any dental problems, especially cavities. Most people do not take care of their teeth properly. And a lot of Americans don’t have insurance or can afford to see a dentist.
If you live near or in Kansas City, Missouri, Dental ER can help you find affordable treatment options if you have a cavity.
Nobody should have to live in pain. If we know that we have problems with our teeth, we shouldn’t have to live in fear of a cavity forming. When a cavity starts, the pain will come. It’s just a matter of time.
The sooner we start taking care of our teeth, the better. No matter how far we have let our teeth go, it is never too late to prevent them from getting any worse or turning into a dental emergency.
What does a cavity feel like when it first starts?
The most common way to tell if you have a cavity is from a throbbing feeling in your mouth or jaw. The pain can be intense and even cause a severe migraine. Sometimes putting pressure on the infected tooth can give us a slight relief from the tooth pain.
When a cavity forms underneath the gum line, we will notice redness and swelling around the problem area. Our gums around the cavity can sometimes be as sensitive and painful as the tooth itself.
The best thing we can do to prevent cavities and tooth decay is to see our dentist regularly. Most cavities, as adults, occur in between our teeth. Even with a strict flossing routine, a cavity as a grown-up is quite common.
If you live in Kansas City, Missouri, or any of the surrounding cities, schedule an appointment with Dental ER For all your routine dental services or emergency needs. Not sure how to tell if you have a cavity? Dental ER can get to the root of any dental problem.
