To have the healthiest possible life, it is important to take great care of your smile. Not only do healthy teeth look better, but they also support long-term health and wellness by reducing the transport of harmful bacteria from the mouth to the body. You may already be doing all that you can to prevent tooth decay. You’re brushing morning and night for two full minutes each time. You’re flossing your teeth once a day.

Beyond that, we also encourage you to recognize the signs of tooth decay early, when your dentist can provide conservative care to stop the infection that could cause significant harm. Here, we discuss some of the most common signs of tooth decay.

Sensitivity

If your teeth are not normally sensitive but you find that warm or cold food or beverages cause pain, you may be in the beginning stages of a cavity forming. Sensitivity could indicate that part of the tooth is damaged and the underlying nerves are inflamed.

Toothache

Sometimes, a tooth may hurt for a short time after eating a certain food. If the same tooth hurts time and time again after eating or the tooth aches persistently for more than a few days, chances are there is a cavity developing.

Pressure On A Tooth

When chewing, a tooth that is compromised by decay may develop a sense of pressure. This symptom of tooth decay may be easily overlooked and may precede sensitivity or a toothache.

Gum Issues

Most people associated problems like swollen, red gums or gums that bleed with gingivitis and gum disease, not tooth decay. However, the two may go hand-in-hand. The bacteria that are creating a cavity in a tooth can also move to the gum line where they can hide more easily.

Discoloration Or Pits

A brown or discolored spot on a tooth that does not go away could be a sign of decay. Eventually, a pit may be seen in the same spot, indicating that the tooth is sustaining damage.

Treating Tooth Decay

Cavities represent one of the most common, and one of the most preventable, dental problems seen today. When caught and addressed early, tooth decay can be reversed quite easily. The dentist can perform a thorough cleaning of the tooth to remove bacteria and stop the infection from worsening. The damaged area of the tooth may be removed and filled with a tooth-colored material. If a cavity is left untreated for some time, more of the tooth structure will require treatment. This may involve covering part of the tooth with an inlay or onlay or covering the entire tooth with a dental crown. Decay that has extended to the innermost part of the tooth may need to be treated with a root canal procedure. Performed with the use of a local anesthetic, root canal therapy removes all infected tissue in the root area of the tooth. The tooth is then covered with a dental crown.

Schedule preventive dental treatment today to avoid tooth decay. Contact Aventura Dental Center at 305-933-2501.