A cavity is a tiny hole or opening in the centre of the tooth. When this occurs, tooth filling treatment will be required to fill the hole so that your tooth can still remain functional. A cavity can develop at any time. Pus forms inside the hole and pus is a form of bacteria, and this can penetrate inside the tooth and even cause decay if the cavity isn’t treated quickly. This will mean dental emergency treatment to avoid the infection from getting worse.
So, what are the cavity warning signs? If you believe you experience any of these warning signs, you’ll need to visit the dentist for a tooth filling treatment.
The Five Cavity Warning Signs
- Mouth Sensitivity – If you’re experience regularly tooth sensitivity, then you need to visit the dentist to avoid the infection penetrating the tooth root. The sensitivity may even appear before the cavity has formed. Either way, you need to visit the dentist as soon as you experience sensitivity.
- Pain When Chewing – Pain through chewing has several factors such as teeth grinding, jaw clenching through stress and general anxiety, or even temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). These conditions can cause teeth to suffer from wear and tear, increasing the chances of a cavity.
- Toothache – Toothache is an indication that there is a problem inside a tooth that needs treating. The toothache can range from throbbing to minor pain, but shouldn’t be ignored either way. Severe and constant pain will require an emergency appointment as your tooth may have suffered from a cavity. You may also consider over-the-counter medication for temporary pain relief should an emergency appointment not be immediately available. There are many common causes of toothache.
- Loose Or Missing Fillings – Tooth fillings need care and attention, and a lack of care can cause existing filings to become loose or even fall out altogether. Hence, strong oral hygiene is essential, and you must take care of what you eat in and around your filling.
- The Hole Becomes Bigger – The initial tiny opening becomes bigger if the cavity doesn’t get treated. This increases the danger of bacteria penetrating inside the tooth, into your gums and bloodstream. The tooth will decay even further and can cause irreversible damage.
Tooth filling treatment is something that patients will need to maintain the functioning of the tooth. These five cavity warning signs need to be taken seriously because the further you leave it, the worse your tooth gets. The tooth would need to be removed via tooth extraction treatment as it continues to decay itself to avoid the infection from spreading to other contours of your mouth.
If you’ve recently had a filling, read here to learn about how to look after it. Alternatively, If you’re experiencing one or more of these cavity warning signs, or have issues with your existing filling, contact us at Wahroonga Dental Group today and let us take care of your oral health.