When Should You Bring Up a Dental Concern with Your Dentist?
June 30, 2023 9:38 amEven if you take great care of your smile, you may still experience a dental issue sometime in your life. Let your dentist know if you experience any of the following:
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Tooth Pain
- Swollen & Bleeding Gums
- Changes in Your Mouth
Tooth sensitivity can feel like a sharp pain or discomfort in your tooth that appears suddenly. Hot and cold temperatures, sweet foods, and acidic foods often trigger sensitivity. If you’re noticing symptoms of sensitivity, it’s important to bring it up to your dentist quickly as it could be caused by tooth decay, gum recession from gum disease, or thinning tooth enamel.
Tooth pain can vary from mildly annoying to agonizing. If the pain is very mild, you may have something stuck in your teeth. Carefully brush and floss. But pain that is persistent, severe, and occurs when you bite down could have more serious causes. Contact a dentist for emergency care within 24 hours.
Red, swollen gums are inflamed. Diseased gums also bleed when you brush or floss. The first thing you should do is improve your oral hygiene. Although having puffy, tender gums is generally not an emergency (unless the swelling affects only one area), it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist.
If you notice any changes in the color, texture, or look of the soft tissues in your mouth (gums, cheeks, tongue, etc), you should get a dentist to take a peek. It’s especially important to get checked out if lesions don’t heal within two weeks. These changes could be a warning sign for oral cancer.
Consult with Imperial Christina Dental Care in Lakeland, FL
While not every dental discomfort requires immediate care, it’s best to call us for recommendations if you’re ever unsure! We’re pleased to offer emergency care alongside comprehensive dental services, like cleanings and exams, restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and teeth whitening. Dr. Rasmussen and our team look forward to helping you and your family!
