Indications you Need to Prioritize Your Oral Health
As we stated in Part I of this series, it is important to consistently adhere to a thorough oral hygiene routine to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Nevertheless, symptoms may arise that require a visit to our Highland Park family dentistry practice. We covered toothaches and bleeding gums in Part I. Below we investigate a few more.
Chronic Bad Breath
If you suffer from chronic bad breath, and you have ruled out dietary causes like onion and garlic (which can make its way to your lungs where it can cause odor even days later), it may be more than just annoying. If your chronic bad persists even after brushing your teeth and using mouthwash, or returns minutes after your oral hygiene routine is complete, it may be an indication of larger dental issues.
Gum disease and severe cavities can both cause bad mouth odor, as can tobacco use, dry mouth, and certain medications. If you can not figure out why you are having issues with chronic bad breath, it is probably time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Mouth Ulcers
Many potential causes of ulcers that appear on your gums and in your mouth are minor. Biting your cheek, acidic food, allergic reactions, vitamin deficiencies, and injury from wires from your braces can all cause ulcers to appear. They can also be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections.
If your mouth ulcers heal on their own within two weeks, they usually are not a reason for concern. However, if you are seeing them appear often, or if they take longer than three weeks to heal, they could indicate a serious health issue and merit a trip to the dentist.
Frequent Dry Mouth
More often than not, when your mouth is dry, you are more likely to suffer from tooth decay and gum disease because your saliva is not able to fight oral bacteria as effectively as it should. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by health conditions like diabetes, it can be a symptom of nerve damage, or it can be caused by certain medications or chemotherapy treatment.
To help protect your teeth and gums, you will want to try switching up your prescriptions, treat underlying illness, or use a specialized mouthwash to help improve your symptoms.
Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity can be a symptom of serious oral health issues, including a failed dental filling, cavities, a cracked tooth, receding gums, enamel erosion, a cavity, or gum disease. Sensitivity pain is characterized by a sharp, short-lived pain triggered by cold, hot, or sugary food and drinks. You should always have this type of pain checked out by your dentist at North Suburban Dental.
Schedule Your Mundelein Dental Care Today
If you are suffering from any unusual dental symptoms, call to schedule a checkup with your dentist in Mundelein or Highland Park today. To learn more about common dental symptoms and what causes them, check out Part III of this blog series coming soon.
