Common Signs That You Have At Least One Cavity
Cavities can be caused by numerous factors. For example, if you don’t brush your teeth regularly, or if you eat a lot of candy or drink sugary beverages, then you’ll be more likely to have a cavity – and you’d be in good company. About nine out of ten adults will have a cavity in their lifetime. That doesn’t mean you can’t avoid them though – just be sure you’re brushing and flossing at least twice a day and avoid sugar when possible.
While not getting a cavity in the first place is the best option, if you do get a cavity then it’s important to visit your dentist for a cleaning and exam right away. Read on to learn about common signs that you have a cavity. If you’re experiencing them, please reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 right away.
Your teeth have white spots or are otherwise discolored
Often the very first sign of a cavity is a chalky white spot on one or more teeth. These can come even before your teeth start hurting. Discoloration in general is caused by your teeth decaying – which leads to cavities.
Your teeth are sensitive to cold or sweets
Do you experience a feeling of sharp pain on one tooth when you take a drink of a very cold beverage, when you bite into ice cream, or if you eat chilled fruit? If so, then you may have a cavity. Likewise, if you find that your teeth or one specific tooth is particularly sensitive to sugar, then you may have a cavity.
Different types of pain
Not every cavity comes with pain and not all pain in your teeth is caused by cavities. That said, if you find that when you bite down on something you get a sharp pain, or if you have a constant, throbbing pain in one or more teeth, then you may be dealing with a cavity.
You have bad breath
Many people don’t realize that bad breath can sometimes be a sign of a cavity. Why? Because when you have a cavity, you’ll often have a gap in your teeth that your brush can’t get to, and that won’t be affected by flossing. If food gets in there, it can begin to decay and can smell terrible.
Visual signs
There are a number of visual signs that can point to a cavity. For example, if you have a tooth that breaks or chips, this can be caused by a cavity that’s made the tooth more fragile. If you have had a cavity for a while, you may be able to see a small hole in the tooth. Note that this is only the case for a small percentage of cavities – not being able to see a cavity doesn’t mean you don’t have one.
Regardless of the reason, if you think you have a cavity then you should have it looked at and taken care of sooner rather than later. All you need to do is reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to schedule a dental appointment.
