You do everything you can to keep your smile healthy; you brush, floss, and see your dentist regularly as recommended. These efforts are hugely important, but, unfortunately, sometimes dental damage can pop up anyway.
The good news is that, as a patient, you can keep your eyes open for signs of damage and infection, so that you can get the timely treatment that you need. With that in mind, our O’Fallon dentists are here to help you learn more about how emerging oral infections may manifest. Let’s get started!
One of the first clues that you may be dealing with an oral infection is chronic bad breath. The oral bacteria that cause infections also release unpleasant odors when they grow and multiply. So, if you have trouble freshening your smile no matter how diligently you clean your teeth and gums, you may be dealing with a cavity or periodontal disease.
There are also visible changes that can be red flags that infection is present. If part of your tooth, for example, starts to look dark—brown or gray—this may indicate that the enamel is infected. Infected gum tissue may appear red and swollen.
As infections progress, you may develop pain and sensitivity around the compromised dental tissue. Tooth pain occurs because the inner nerves and dental tissues, which reside in the inner core of the tooth, are exposed and irritated. Your gums will also become sensitive as the tissue swells and becomes prone to bleeding.
The best thing that you can do is to reach out for treatment as soon as you notice any of these changes to your smile. Prompt treatment will help you minimize the damage sustained due to these infections. Please feel free to reach out to our O’Fallon dentists for more information and to schedule a personal consultation!