Your dental health is crucial to your overall health and well-being. That is why it is important to have a dentist ready to help treat any dental health issue you or your loved one experiences. Even if it is not an emergency, waiting to receive dental treatment is not wise because most dental problems worsen with time when left untreated.

Aside from improving the aesthetic appearance of your smile and keeping cavities, gum diseases, and other dental issues at bay, taking care of your dental health can also benefit other organs of your body, including the heart.

Hence, it is wise to educate yourself about common tooth problems that could indicate you need to see your dentist. When a dental health issue is detected early, a dentist can offer the necessary treatment to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Common Dental Health Issues That Could Require You to See a Dentist

Although there are many reasons why people make dental appointments, the following are the most frequent conditions that could necessitate visiting a dentist:

Toothache

Toothaches can cause discomfort, sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and even swollen gums, making it challenging to do your everyday chores. However, like any other pain, a toothache is your body's way of signaling that something is wrong. A toothache could be mild and temporary or severe and long-lasting, depending on the cause. Below are the common causes of toothache among most patients:

  • Cavities
  • Tooth trauma
  • Nerve infection
  • Failed restorative treatment like a dental crown or filling
  • Gum disease
  • Teeth grinding

If the toothache is mild or non-severe, you can take OTC (over-the-counter) medications to reduce the discomfort before seeing your dentist. However, if your toothache persists for more than forty-eight (48) hours or is in conjunction with other bothersome symptoms like swelling, you should speak with a dentist as soon as possible.

Long-lasting or severe toothaches qualify as a dental emergency because they indicate you have an issue that requires immediate medical attention. Depending on how serious the problem is, your dentist could suggest either a dental filling or root canal therapy if a cavity is the source of the problem.

Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is another common sign that you should make an appointment with your dentist. When you experience sudden pain in your tooth in response to cold, sour, or hot foods, you should see your dentist as soon as possible because that means you have a sensitive tooth.

A sensitive tooth indicates that the enamel is eroding, exposing the dentin (the inner, nerve-containing portion of the tooth) to external stimuli, like hot or cold meals. Acidic foods and acidic secretions released by mouth bacteria are the leading causes of enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

When you eat sugary foods and fail to brush your teeth thoroughly, the bacteria in your mouth will feast on these foods, releasing acidic secretions that erode your teeth' enamel. Your dentist could suggest using a special toothpaste to block dentin tubes that cause sensitivity to different stimuli if you have sensitivity issues with your teeth.

If your tooth sensitivity issue is caused by a cavity or tooth crack, your dentist will likely recommend a filling or other suitable restorative procedure.

Tender or Bleeding Gums

While your gums can bleed when you brush them hard or vigorously, gingivitis is the main culprit or cause of this issue. Gingivitis is the first and most reversible stage of gum disease. Aside from the bleeding, other signs of gingivitis include the following:

  • Bright red gums
  • Shiny gums
  • Mouth sores
  • Tender or swollen gums

The main cause of gingivitis among most people is poor oral and dental hygiene habits because it allows plaque to build up on the surface of your teeth and below the gum line. Plaque is the sticky brownish or yellow film that sticks to the surface of your teeth after consuming starches and sugars in food.

Since plaque is an excellent breeding ground for harmful bacteria, you should remove it daily to protect your teeth' enamel from erosion and prevent gingivitis. The longer the plaque buildup remains on your teeth, the more it irritates your gum line, leading to gingivitis. While anyone can experience gingivitis, the following factors will increase your risk of developing gingivitis:

  • Chewing tobacco products or smoking
  • Dry mouth
  • Old age
  • Poor nutrition
  • Crooked or crowded teeth that are challenging to clean
  • Any health condition that lowers your body's immunity, including cancer, leukemia, and HIV/AIDS
  • Hormonal changes
  • Certain genes

When left unchecked, gingivitis could worsen, leading to a more serious gum disease known as periodontitis or even the loss of the affected tooth. That is why you should seek the services of a dentist as soon as possible if you have bleeding gums.

The gingivitis treatment your dentist will recommend aims to control the infection and restore the health of your teeth and gums. Here are examples of these treatments:

  • Scaling and root planing — During this procedure, your dentist will use specialized tools to scrape off and remove the plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth and below the gumline
  • Improved oral hygiene — Good dental hygiene practices can help heal your teeth and gums and reverse gingivitis. Your dentist will offer guidance on how to effectively clean and floss your teeth to stop and prevent gum disease
  • Antimicrobial mouthwash — Your dentist will recommend using antimicrobial mouthwash whenever you are brushing your teeth to help kill the gingivitis-causing bacteria
  • Dental work repair — If you have damaged or loosened dental restorations like a filling, repairing or tightening them could help reverse gingivitis

Receding Gums

Gum recession is another common dental problem that requires an appointment with your dentist to determine the cause and offer the necessary treatment. You have receding gums if the margin of the gum tissue surrounding your teeth is slowly pulling away, exposing more of the tooth and sometimes its roots.

Since it occurs gradually, most people will not know they have gum recession until later, when they detect the following symptoms:

  • Some teeth appear longer than others
  • Teeth sensitivity
  • Pockets between the gum line and the teeth

Ensure you contact a dentist as soon as possible when you detect the above symptoms because gum recession is not an issue you can ignore or delay its treatment. Although periodontal disease is the primary cause of receding gums, the following issues could also cause this health issue:

  • Aggressive tooth brushing
  • Inadequate dental care
  • Teeth grinding
  • Tobacco products
  • Misaligned bite

The degree of gum recession will determine what kind of treatment your dentist recommends. For a mild gum recession issue, a scaling and root planing procedure (deep teeth cleaning) would be enough to remove the plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth and below your gum line. Then, he/she will recommend some antibiotics to prevent reinfection.

Gum surgery could be required to reverse the problem if deep cleaning is not the best option for treating gum recession due to significant bone loss or deep pockets.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath, also medically known as halitosis, is another common oral health issue that many people occasionally experience, particularly after consuming smelly foods like cheese and onions. Fortunately, home-based remedies like brushing your teeth daily with antibacterial toothpaste and mouthwash can fix this uncomfortable and shameful issue.

However, scheduling an appointment with your dentist would be wise if you have persistent bad breath that does not disappear after performing your daily oral care habits. Your dentist can help you pinpoint the cause of persistent bad breath for appropriate treatment. Some of the common culprits of bad breath among most patients include:

  • Poor oral hygiene habits
  • Gum disease
  • Liver or kidney disease
  • Decay
  • Chewing or smoking-based products

If your bad breath is due to poor oral and dental hygiene practices, your dentist could recommend an in-office deep cleaning to remove food particles trapped between your teeth and plaque buildup.

However, if bad breath is a symptom of an underlying dental or general health condition, your healthcare provider can determine the cause and offer the necessary treatment to fix the problem permanently. While chewing breath mints can help temporarily reduce bad breath, the cause of this issue will remain untreated.

That is why a dentist must conduct a diagnosis to identify the root cause of the issue and provide appropriate treatment.

A Damaged or Chipped Teeth

Aside from being a cosmetic issue, a damaged or chipped tooth could cause sensitivity when drinking or eating cold or hot foods. As the name suggests, a chipped tooth occurs when a fragment of your tooth enamel (outer surface of the teeth) breaks off. While teeth are the most mineralized body organs, making them hard, they have their limits.

When you bite hard foods like nuts or suffer a mouth injury during sports activities or an auto accident, your teeth could break off, leaving you with a chip. Though it will not cause any major health issues, a small chip in your tooth could make you self-conscious about your smile appearance.

If you have a chipped tooth, a dentist can carefully examine it to determine the extent of the chip or damage and provide appropriate treatment. A dental veneer is one of the most common remedies your dentist could recommend if you have a chipped tooth. This customized shell can help restore a severely chipped or fractured tooth and improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.

Crowded Teeth

Most people assume that crowded or crooked teeth are only cosmetic problems that can affect their smile's appearance, but there is more to this dental condition than meets the eye. Crooked or crowded teeth could also make maintaining optimal oral and dental health challenging because a toothbrush cannot reach some of them during your daily oral care routines. Some of the common causes of this dental issue include:

  • Genes
  • Thumb sucking
  • Malnutrition
  • Mouth breathing
  • Tongue thrusting
  • Early loss of your baby teeth
  • Trauma

While it is not a bothersome or painful dental problem, you should visit your dentist for treatment if your teeth are crowded or crooked. Depending on the severity of your condition and your cosmetic goals, your dentist could recommend any of the following teeth straightening treatments:

  • Braces
  • Clear aligners
  • Retainers
  • Palatal expanders

When left untreated or unchecked, crowded or crooked teeth could cause the following possible oral health issues:

  • Chewing problems
  • Periodontal disease
  • Speech difficulties

Discolored or Stained Teeth

Another common dental condition that indicates you need to visit the dentist is tooth staining or discoloration, ranging from mild yellowing to severe discoloration. Some of the common causes of discolored or stained teeth among many people include the following:

  • Poor oral hygiene habits
  • Tobacco smoking
  • Certain foods and drinks, like red wine and coffee
  • Certain medications, like antihistamines
  • Excessive fluoride
  • Aging
  • Decay
  • Dental trauma
  • Certain diseases, like liver disease
  • Cancer treatment, including chemotherapy

Depending on the underlying cause of your teeth' discolorations or stains, your dentist could recommend the following treatments to give you the celebrity-like smile you deserve:

  • Teeth whitening
  • Dental bonding
  • Porcelain veneers
  • Dental crowns

If you smoke or chew tobacco-related products, your dentist will recommend quitting this unhealthy habit if you want to retain a bright smile after receiving any of the above treatments. Brushing your teeth daily and scheduling frequent dental appointments with your dentist could also help retain your smile’s appearance and prevent further discolorations.

If you have any of the above-explained dental problems, scheduling an appointment with an experienced dentist is a decision you cannot regret, even if they are not emergency issues. Aside from being qualified and experienced, ensure the dentist you choose is:

  • Licensed
  • Accessible and available
  • Cost-friendly
  • Credible and reputable

Find a Dentist Near Me

A dentist can assist if you have a serious dental emergency or need expert advice on whether your dental issue needs treatment. Our profound team of dentists at Northridge Advanced Dentistry is here to help if you have any dental issues or questions about your dental and oral health.

Call us at 818-701-3010 to schedule your initial, cost-free consultation with one of our skilled dentists today.