5 Signs That You May Have a Cavity
Almost everyone will have a cavity at some point in their life. It’s true that kids are more likely to get cavities but they aren’t the only ones who get one. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, more than 90% of American 20 years old or older have had a cavity. If you currently believe that you may have a cavity but aren’t sure, read on to find out if any of these five signs apply to you. If they do, then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up a dental cleaning and exam.
- You have pain in your tooth
- Your tooth is sensitive to temperature
- You feel more pain when you eat sugar
- Your tooth has dark spots or a hole
- You have bad breath that won’t go away
Cavities can often cause toothaches, especially when the part of your tooth that has a cavity comes into contact with something else. If you find that your tooth hurts when you chew food, then it’s likely you have a cavity and you need a tooth filling. If you find that your tooth hurts even when you’re not chewing or otherwise touching it, then you may have an infected nerve. Either way, it’s time to contact the dentist.
In many cases, one of the first signs of a cavity will be a sensitivity to foods or beverages that are either hot or cold. If you notice that all of a sudden your tooth hurts when you eat or drink something that’s hot or cold, then it’s likely that you have a cavity – though other things can cause it.
Just like hot and cold foods can affect a cavity and make it hurt, teeth with cavities can become sensitive to sugar too. If you find that you have a tingling or slight pain when you eat foods that are high in sugar, then you may have a cavity.
In some cases, you can actually see the cavity in your tooth. It may also be true that the tooth is brittle or that it chips more easily than it would otherwise have chipped. You may see that a cavity causes dark spots on your tooth, or your entire tooth could be darker. If you see any of these symptoms then it’s time to contact the dentist.
It may be that your bad breath is just the result of having a dinner with a lot of garlic, but if it persists over days or weeks then it’s likely the result of something else going on. One of the things that could be going on is that a cavity is forming or has formed. If you find that your tooth has small holes in it, they can get full of food particles. After a while, the food will rot and it can cause bad breath.
