Is your mouth trying to tell you something? Your mouth gives off various clues when something isn’t right.
These symptoms can indicate a minor cavity or even a more serious oral health concern that could impact other areas of your body. Therefore, it’s important to notice these signs so you can get the treatment you need.
How’s Your Throat Feeling?
With proper treatment, a sore throat should not last longer than one to two weeks. If you commonly find your throat throbbing it could be an indication of something more serious. Nonhealing wounds in your throat can be signs of diabetes, oral cancer, or tonsillitis. If your sore throat is typically accompanied by ear pain, hoarseness, jaw swelling, or trouble swallowing, you should speak with your dentist about possible underlying medical concerns that could be the cause.
Are Your Gums Bleeding or Swollen?
Your gums are important as they hold your teeth in place. Gums create a protective wall between the food you eat and your tooth roots, nerves, and blood vessels. Gums are helpful at indicating when something is wrong, as long as you can take notice. Seeing blood in your sink after a normal tooth brushing is not normal and calls for a trip to your dentist. Healthy gums do not regularly bleed and should only look swollen if they were aggressively brushed. Sick gums may indicate gum disease, which means bacteria in your mouth is causing an inflammation in your gums. That being said, pay attention to your gums and make sure they’re not showing symptoms of a disease.
Are Your Teeth Feeling Extra Sensitive?
It’s normal for your teeth to feel a bit sensitive from time to time, especially if you’ve recently visited your dentist. However, unexplained and random tooth sensitivity could be a symptom of something more serious, so you may want to see your dentist to ensure that your pearly whites are in tip-top shape. Increased temperature sensitivity can be a symptom of a cavity or a thinning dental enamel, which your dentist can help with. In more serious circumstances, tooth sensitivity may indicate a bacterial infection that could spread to other areas of your body if not properly treated. So if your teeth are feeling a bit tender, stay safe and get them checked out.
Is Your Breath Staying Fresh?
Bad breath is very normal after eating certain (stinky) foods. But if you’re noticing especially pungent breath on a regular basis then it may be a sign of something else. Chronic bad breath can be a symptom of gum disease or a dental cavity. It could also be your body’s way of telling you it needs more saliva, in which you need to start drinking more water. Whichever the reason, continuous bad breath isn’t fun for anyone, but a trip to the dentist can help you get your breath smelling minty fresh again.
