Five Symptoms You Should Talk to Your Dentist About

Getting dental cleanings and checkups on a regular basis is crucial when it comes to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. It's easy to ignore dental symptoms between cleanings because we often don't think they're serious enough to justify an extra trip to the dentist. Ignoring certain symptoms, however, can be a big mistake and create more problems down the road. The following are five symptoms you should talk to your dentist about.

A Broken Tooth

A broken or cracked tooth is something that shouldn't be ignored even if it isn't causing a lot of pain. People tend to put off going to the dentist as long as whatever problem they're having isn't too painful. The problem with this is that the tooth will only get worse with time and the treatment options needed to repair the tooth may be more severe.

Bleeding Gums

Gums that bleed occasionally may not be a problem. If it's happening on a regular basis, especially with mild brushing, it's something you should discuss with your dentist. This may be a sign of gingivitis, which can ultimately lead to more serious gum disease.

A Dry Mouth

Losing moisture in the mouth is something that happens to many people as they age. A chronic dry mouth can, however, be related to other health problems. It could be an indication of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or even lupus. Sometimes it's a side effect of medication. Whatever the cause, it needs to be discussed with your dentist. According to the Art of Dentistry Institute, treatment could be as simple as chewing sugarless gum to stimulate saliva glands, or as serious mouth gels and artificial rinses.

Jaw Pain

Jaw pain is sometimes caused by teeth grinding. This might even happen at night when you're not aware of it. Chronic teeth grinding can lead to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD), which could require surgery to correct.

Bad Breath That Doesn't Go Away

If bad breath can't be eliminated by brushing, it may be a sign of a more serious issue. Sometimes bad breath is a symptom of gum disease or tooth decay. Unpleasant breath may just be related to a person's diet. Eating an excessive amount of onions or garlic can create bad breath. It should be checked out, however, to make sure it's not something more serious.

Any of the above problems might not be anything to worry about and can often be easily treated. But it's best to visit a dentist at the first sign of trouble just in case it's something more serious.