Always keep in mind that dental and oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. You can have a problem with dental cavities and gum disease due to poor oral hygiene. It also leads to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Without any doubt, we can say that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a lifelong commitment. Therefore, the earlier we learn proper oral hygiene habits, the easier it will be to avoid the costly dental procedures as well as long-term health issues. Always keep in mind that brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist can protect you from far more than cavities. If you want to know how oral health is a window to overall health and what the symptoms of dental and oral problems are, then you are reading the right post. This article tends to highlight the symptoms of dental and oral problems. Let’s discover them.
What are the symptoms of dental and oral problems?
Tooth sensitivity or bad breath is sometimes the symptom of a flu bug that usually go away when your flu does. But sometimes, such symptoms that show up in the mouth are much more serious. It is commonly said that you should not wait until you have symptoms to visit your dentist. This is quite true because going to the dentist twice a year will usually allow them to catch a problem before you even notice any symptoms.
You should make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms of dental and oral problems:
1- Bleeding Gums or Swollen Gums after brushing or flossing
The first symptom of dental and oral problems is Bleeding Gums or Swollen Gums. This is the oral health sign that you should never ignore. Bleeding gums or swollen gums usually indicate that you have a problem with your gum health. If bleeding occurs even while brushing or flossing the teeth, it means you are at risk of having early gum disease and just keep in mind that gum disease is an issue that should not be ignored. Bleeding Gums or Swollen Gums after brushing or flossing can also point to other health problems as well. Sometimes, bleeding of the gums is caused by brushing your teeth too vigorously or wearing dentures that do not fit correctly. Bleeding Gums or Swollen Gums after brushing or flossing can also indicate more serious conditions. These include:
- Periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease)
- Leukemia (cancer of the blood)
- Lack of clotting cells (platelets)
- Vitamin deficiency
The problem of swollen gums is also a major issue in this regard. There are many causes of swollen gums for example:
- Gingivitis
- Pregnancy
- Malnutrition
- Infection
2- A toothache
A toothache is also one of the symptoms of dental and oral problems. It usually indicates a cavity. Do remember that if your mouth or jaw hurt, it could be from a toothache. Toothaches also signal gum disease and in some cases, they are a sign of an abscess or impacted tooth. This symptom of a dental and oral problem should be evaluated by a dentist right away to determine the cause of the problem as well as prevent the tooth from dying.
3- Chronic Bad Breath
Bad Breath is considered as a symptom of a dental and oral problem. If you are in the habit of flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day, but still you are facing the problem of bad breath, then you need to use a tongue scraper. But if after using a tongue scraper, the bad breath persists, then you may have a more serious underlying condition, including a liver or kidney disorder and diabetes. There are many causes of bad breath. These include:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Strong foods and beverages
- Smoking
- Dry mouth
- Periodontal disease
- Sinus, mouth or throat conditions
4- Crooked Teeth
Crooked or misaligned teeth are often the symptoms of dental and oral problems so, you should never take them easy. In fact, when the teeth are crooked or not properly aligned, food gets impacted in spaces in between the teeth and as a result of this, plaque builds up because these crooked spaces are not easily reached by a toothbrush and floss. It is the build-up of plaque that always leads to gum disease as well as other inflammatory diseases. There are many people who usually think that getting braces is all about having a “pretty smile”, but we cannot deny the fact that straightening the teeth is actually a preventative health measure.
5- Loose teeth
A loose tooth is a cause of concern for adults. This problem occurs when a tooth loses support. As a result, it slowly detaches from the gums and bones and the slightest touch may cause the tooth to move. Moreover, eating or chewing can also cause further loosening. You can experience other symptoms such as bleeding gums, swollen gums, red gums, and gum recession if you develop a loose tooth later in life.
6- Sores in the mouth
The problem of sores in the mouth is also an important symptom of a dental and oral problem that you should not ignore. For this, you need to talk to your dentist.
7- Sensitivity in teeth
Tooth sensitivity or dentin hypersensitivity is the pain or discomfort in the teeth as a response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures. The pain that is caused by hot or cold foods could be a sign of a cavity but, at the same time, it is also common in people who have sensitive teeth.
8- Receding Gums
If you are facing the problem of receding gums, then you are at risk of facing serious oral health problems. In this, your gums pull back from the tooth surface. As a result, the root surfaces of your teeth are exposed.
To sum it up:
All above are the major symptoms of dental and oral problems so, never try to ignore the pain in the gums or teeth because this could mean that you have some serious oral problem!
