1. Cracked or Broken Teeth
Cracking a tooth or breaking a tooth can happen in many different ways. Some common causes are simply having brittle teeth, an injury and grinding your teeth. Sometimes cracks can be invisible to the naked eye and even X-ray. They can often times be incredibly painful and can create even bigger problems down the road if left untreated. If you experience any pain when chewing please see your dentist immediately. Your dentist can diagnose the cause and develop you a plan for treatment.
2. Stained or Discolored Teeth
As the years go on, naturally your teeth can become stained and/or change their color. Many times this is the result of eating certain acidy foods and consuming coffee or tea. Other factors are smoking, aging, genetics, injury and certain medications. Whitening options can include office treatments with us or over the counter methods. Check with the dentist to hear about your options for stain removal.
3. Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can be a side effect of certain medications or the symptom of a more serious medical disorder. Saliva is your mouths natural way of fighting off tooth decay. Saliva spreads disease fighting substances throughout the mouth, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and rinses away food and other debris. If you are experiencing symptoms of dry mouth ask your dentist for options to restore adequate levels of moisture back to the mouth.
4. Jaw Pain or Popping/Clicking in the Jaw
Having popping, clicking and/or jaw pain can be caused by many things and is therefore typically difficult to diagnose. Common causes include injury, teeth grinding, gingivitis, toothache, arthritis or TMD/TMJ. A thorough exam should be done by your dentist which should include X-rays to determine where the pain is coming from.
5. Oral Piercing Infection
Mouth, lip and tongue piercings can cause a wide range of issues for your oral hygiene and general health. Your mouth is home to massive amounts of bacteria, creating an ideal habitat for infections. If you are experiencing swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking or a red-streaky like appearance around your piercing - contact your dentist or physician right away.
6. Mouth Sores
There are a few different types of mouth sores - canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia and candidiasis are the most common. The severity and causes can vary. Mouth sores are sometimes the symptom of a disorder or disease. Mouth sores could be from bacteria, fungus, viruses or a result from an irritation caused by braces. Sometimes dentures, a sharp edge from a filling and/or a broken tooth can cause a sore. Any mouth sore that lasts longer than a week should be taken seriously and examined by your dentist.
7. Toothaches
If your jaw or mouth hurts this could be because of a toothache. A toothache usually indicates a cavity but could also mean gum disease. Sometimes a toothache is from an impacted tooth or an abscess. Toothaches should be checked immediately by a dentist to find the cause and also to prevent the tooth from potentially dying.
8. Bad Breath
Bad breath comes from not cleaning your mouth, dry mouth, smoking, what you eat and other medical conditions. Consistent bad breath could mean you have gum disease. By brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day you can reduce bad breath and even prevent gum disease from happening. Be sure to brush your tongue also. If you have concerns about what may be causing your bad breath, be sure to see your dentist. A cause can be determined and a treatment plan implemented.
9. Sensitive Teeth
If you are experiencing pain in a tooth when you drink cold or hot beverages, it’s possible you have sensitive teeth. Tooth decay, worn fillings, gum disease, a fractured tooth, worn tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root from gum recession can be the cause. A treatment plan can be determined but will depend on the source of the sensitivity. If you have sensitivity in your teeth or a tooth see your dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
10. Sore Gums and Bleeding
Bleeding and sore gums are an indicator of gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease. Luckily it is reversible but it is the ONLY reversible stage of gum disease. Bleeding gums can be a result of brushing too hard or a new flossing routine. If your gums are bleeding on a regular basis schedule an appointment with a dentist or your physician to rule out other potential more serious problems.