Do You Have a Cavity? 5 Signs to Watch Out For
In a perfect world, cavities would be something that only happened rarely. Unfortunately, they’re actually very common and in fact most people will have one at some point in their lives. At California Dental Group, we often find that patients have signs of a cavity before they even realize it. Following are five signs that you might have a cavity. If you find that you have one or more, call us at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment for a checkup.
- You have a toothache
- You can see holes in your teeth
- Your teeth are sensitive
- You have pain when you bite down
- You have stained teeth
The most common symptom of a cavity that gets people to make an appointment with a dentist is a toothache. If you’ve had a cavity in the past, then you know how serious this type of toothache can be. If you haven’t, then you should know that a cavity often causes pain in one specific spot. That pain is often painful on a constant basis and does not ebb and flow throughout the day.
A cavity is literally a hole in your tooth. In most cases, they’re so small you can’t see them or in a spot that’s hidden. However, in some cases you can see a small hole in your tooth. If you can see the spot where you’re having pain, and there’s a small hole, then it’s extremely likely that you have a cavity and you need a filling. Note that not being able to see a hole doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
If you take a drink of cold water and experience a sharp pain, or the same thing happens when you have a sip of a hot beverage, then you may have a cavity. The hole in your tooth can leave your nerves exposed, which makes it particularly painful if anything hot or cold comes into contact with the nerve itself.
Not everyone has sensitivity to hot or cold – some have pain when they bite down. If you find that one side or specific part of your mouth hurts when you bite down on something, then you likely either have a cavity or you’ve cracked a tooth. Either way, you need to talk to a dentist as soon as possible.
Most people will get stains on their teeth throughout their lives, but if you suddenly have an area of your teeth that’s stained then this could be a sign of a cavity. If your tooth has a hole in it, then that means that coffee, wine, tobacco, and other substances that stain your teeth, have more access to the inside of your teeth.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of cavity symptoms. The best way to stay cavity-free is to visit your dentist every six months. We can find cavities before you experience any pain or side effects. Contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment.
