Oral Health Problems to Report to Your Dentist!

Call your dentist if you develop any of the following signs and symptoms that may suggest oral health problems.

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Gums that are pulling away from your teeth
• Gums that bleed when you're regularly brushing and flossing
• Pus around your teeth and gums when you press on the gums

                                               

• A bad taste in your mouth
• Loose teeth
• Changes in the way your top and bottom teeth touch
• Changes in the feel of your dentures
• Sensitivity to hot and cold

A good rule to follow is to give it 48 hours...if things aren't improving, seek the attention of a dentist. Most dental issues will be resolved by the immune response system of your body if you simply give it time. Dentists routinely have patients on their schedule for a sensitive tooth check. When asked how long the tooth has troubled, we often hear something like this: "I took a drink of soda earlier today and it felt really cold." This is not indicative of a problem. Now if the patient's response is: "I took a drink of soda earlier today and it ached for 30 minutes." This tooth is sick and needs treatment asap!

    

                                                    
 The "...it felt cold" is most likely a transient aggravation; is a temporary inconvenience and nearly 100% resolve without treatment. The moral of this dental story is...use common sense about when to call your dentist. But when you're in doubt, always call the dentist, because you don't want to wait until it hurts to seek attention.

Watch Your Mouth...Because Spit Happens!