Having healthy teeth is an important part of your overall health. No one wants to have to get a filling because they’ve neglected their teeth. Plus, if you leave a decaying tooth for too long, you may have to get a root canal or even have the entire tooth pulled if it can’t be saved.
The good news is that you already know how to help prevent tooth decay by regularly making sure that you brush and floss. You should also know the most common signs of tooth decay so you can make a dentist appointment quickly if you notice any of them. They are:
- Toothaches
- Pus, swelling, or bleeding around your gums
- Pressure on your teeth
- Pits or holes in your teeth
- Extremely sensitive teeth
If you’ve left tooth decay for too long and lose a tooth, don’t despair - we offer a one-day dental implant procedure.
1. Toothache
An early sign of tooth decay is a dull or throbbing ache around your teeth that doesn’t go away. An ache after eating something quite chewy or hard that soon goes away shouldn’t be an issue but if the ache doesn’t stop, then you may have a problem with one or more of your teeth.
2. Issues with Your Gums
If your gums seem swollen and start to bleed, this is another sign of tooth decay. Healthy gums are an important part of your overall dental health. If you see pus oozing out of your gums, this is even worse than swelling or bleeding and could be a sign of infection. It should be treated right away.
3. Pressure on Your Teeth
If you feel pressure on your teeth when you are biting into or chewing your food, this can be another sign that you have an issue with tooth decay. You shouldn’t feel any unusual pressure on your teeth when you are eating.
4. Pits or Discolouring on Your Teeth
Another sign of tooth decay is when you see black or brown spots on your teeth that don’t go away when you brush or floss. Any kind of discolouration on your teeth can be a sign of tooth decay.
If you see any holes or pits in your teeth, you should make a dentist appointment right away. This can be a sign that you have advanced tooth decay that must be dealt with immediately.
5. Extremely Sensitive Teeth
You may have noticed a little sensitivity in your teeth when you eat something cold like ice cream or drink a hot cup of coffee. This is a normal reaction but if you feel sensitivity or pain every time you eat or drink, then you may have tooth decay that needs to be addressed.
How can tooth decay be treated?
The kind of treatment you will need depends on the size of the cavity and its location. If tooth decay is caught early on, your dentist may be able to prevent further damage using sealants or fluoride rinses.
However, if the tooth decay has progressed further, you may need to have the decayed part of the tooth removed and the cavity replaced with a filling. In cases where there’s a large cavity, you may need to have a crown instead of just a filling. A crown is a cap that matches the colour of your teeth and completely covers your damaged tooth.
If the decay has penetrated your tooth’s nerves, you may need to have a root canal to save it. But there are times when a tooth can’t be saved and may have to be removed.
How can Bloor West Smiles help me with dental implants if I lose a tooth?
Our teeth are one of the first things people notice about us - so if you’ve lost a tooth and have a gap in your smile, you likely feel pretty self-conscious about it. We can help restore your smile and your confidence with our one-day dental implants procedure. This means that after just one visit your dental implants will be in place and you can return to smiling, talking and eating without worry.
Whether you need one or more teeth replaced or whether you’ve just lost a tooth or you’ve been missing one for years, this quick and easy procedure can help you look and feel great.
There are so many benefits to this procedure:
- Minimal downtime after having your implants put in
- Increased convenience for you
- Implants start to immediately stimulate your jawbone - which can increase your chances of retaining all your remaining teeth
Now You Know How to Recognize the Signs of Tooth Decay
Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may still suffer from tooth decay. Now you know the most common signs of it:
- Toothaches
- Pus, swelling, or bleeding around your gums
- Pressure on your teeth
- Pits or holes in your teeth
- Extremely sensitive teeth
Depending on how early tooth decay is caught, it can be treated with a sealant or other preventative measures. If it’s too late for that, your dentist may have to put in a filling or a crown - or even perform a root canal.
If you’ve lost a tooth due to dental decay, our one-day dental implants procedure can have your smile looking normal in no time.
Make an Appointment Today
If you’ve noticed the signs of tooth decay or are interested in one-day dental implants, call Bloor West Smiles at 416-766-2853 or contact us here.
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