Our dentists at ProActive Dental Studio in Surrey understand that cavities can overcome even the most diligent efforts to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You may start to feel a sudden, sharp pain in one of your teeth - ouch! You might have a cavity, but how can you tell?
Cavities (Dental Caries)
Cavities are also known as dental caries, or small holes, in your teeth. Caused by poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, bacteria that naturally occur in your mouth and snacking too often on sweet food, cavities grow over time and destroy the tooth enamel. They can be a problem for people of any age — children, teens or adults.
Regular Checkups Help Prevent Cavities
As early-stage cavities start to develop, you won’t see any signs such as pain, discomfort or visual cues that anything is wrong with your tooth. However, cavities may still be forming. This is why regular dental checkups and hygiene cleanings are essential to preventing cavities.
Seeing your dentist for a checkup every six months allows your dentist the chance to identify tooth decay early, before painful symptoms start to make themselves known. Left untreated, tooth decay and cavities will continue to fester and can cause extensive damage to your tooth structure, along with a host of other painful symptoms.
Signs of Cavities & Tooth Decay
If you have tooth decay or cavities, you may recognize these symptoms:
- Staining on your tooth surface
- Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking anything hot, cold or sweet
- Sudden toothache or pain with no apparent cause
- Unusual tooth sensitivity
- Visible small pits or holes in your teeth
- Sharp pain when biting down on foods
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, contact your dentist right away to schedule an examination. Only a dental professional will be able to properly diagnose and treat tooth decay and cavities.
At ProActive Dental Studio, we steadfastly believe that preventive measures are always better than treatment. Keep your smile healthy and white by brushing for two full minutes twice each day, flossing regularly and seeing your dentist at least once every six months for professional checkups and cleanings.