It’s a smart move to visit a general dentist like Circle Drive Dental every six months for an oral exam. Of course, it’s a busy world we live in, and it isn’t uncommon for a patient to put off seeing a dentist. Unfortunately, waiting too long could see the onset of one or more of the warning signs listed below.

There’s a difference between the “morning breath” that most people wake up with occasionally, and persistent bad breath that could be a sign that you’re overdue to see a dentist. It may come as a surprise, but around 50% of people will contract halitosis (chronic bad breath) during their lifetime. This condition can be brought on by:

• The onset of gum disease
• Advanced tooth decay
• Dry mouth (not producing enough saliva)
• A “non-oral” medical condition such as acid reflux, diabetes, or a sinus affliction

 A good guideline is that if your bad breath persists regardless of how much you clean your teeth and mouth, you should visit our local dentist.

Sore gums is one of the most common warning signs that you’ve put off your dental exams for too long. Gum soreness can include one or more of the following: sensitivity, bleeding, redness, swelling, and regular pain. Often times, sore gums are a precursor to gingivitis (chronic inflammation of the gums) or periodontitis, a more serious condition in which the inflammation extends to the fibers that attach your teeth to the gums.

A painful, aching tooth can be symptomatic of a few different problems – for example, an infection, an injury to the tooth, or a cavity. Regardless of the cause, Circle Drive Dental strongly recommends that you make an appointment for an x-ray and an examination in order to diagnose and treat the pain.

The pain itself can manifest in several different ways, such as:

• Swollen/bleeding gums around a particular tooth
• Pain when chewing/eating
• Constant sensitivity, i.e. pain triggered by something as innocuous as drawing in a breath of air
• Throbbing pain
• Sharp, shooting pain on a regular basis, or which comes and goes

Extreme manifestations – the kind that require immediate dental attention – include:

• Perpetual, severe pain and/or pressure radiating from a tooth
• Pus or a foul odor in the mouth
• Fever, swollen lymph nodes, jaw pain, and difficulty swallowing or breathing

Left untreated, a tooth infection could enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body, such as the neck, head, jaw, and chest. Thus we can’t overstate the importance of having your mouth examined as soon as the pain starts.

Chances are you or someone you know has had their wisdom teeth removed. These large molars make their appearance during a person’s teenage years or in young adulthood, though it should be noted that not everyone has wisdom teeth, and that some people could only have one or two instead of all four. Wisdom teeth can be painful as they grow into the mouth, and sometimes they come in only part-way, or crooked. In a worst-case scenario, wisdom teeth can cause infection as well as trigger a misalignment of other teeth.

The best way to address this issue is to consult with our dental team, who will suggest the right course of action.

Delaying your next dental exam could have negative connotations down the road. Rather than risk experiencing bleeding gums, sore teeth, and bad breath, stick to a twice-annual exam schedule with our Rochester dentists and ensure your mouth is well looked after.