Have you noticed unfortunate changes in your smile, due to a lack of regular preventive care, poor dental hygiene, trauma to a tooth, underlying medical issues, or other circumstances? Many people are tempted to ignore dental symptoms like heightened sensitivity, chronic bad breath, and even discoloration, hoping the cause for the changes will go away on its own. Unfortunately, when it comes to your smile, most problems will only worsen with time. That is because your teeth, while strong, lack the ability to repair themselves the way many other parts of the body can. So if you begin noticing changes, don’t delay a dental visit. Restorative dentistry could be key in helping to save your tooth, and improving your smile!

Don’t Ignore Dental Symptoms; They’re Clues It’s Time to Seek Help

At the first sign of dental trouble, it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Teeth can’t repair themselves so restorative treatment is often required. This is particularly true if it has been more than six months since your last exam and cleaning, because that means you have missed important opportunities for the dentist to catch any burgeoning issues before they can put your oral health in jeopardy.

Common dental symptoms include heightened sensitivity (particularly when enjoying hot or cold foods or drinks, or foods with high amounts of sugar), unsightly yellow buildup (likely tartar which is caused when plaque bacteria begin to calcify onto the surface of the teeth, and irritated, red or inflamed gums which could be symptoms of gingivitis. Chronic bad breath and dry mouth can also contribute to oral health issues, so consult your dentist about potential treatment options if you are experiencing these or other negative changes to your smile or your oral comfort.