All dental treatments aim to either soothe pain or prevent it—cavity fillings are no different. If you schedule routine dental visits every six months, it is very likely that your dental team will detect a cavity before you even start feeling the symptoms.
To protect your oral health and yourself from unnecessary pain, you should schedule an appointment with our dental office to treat and prevent potential cavities.
Understanding the Symptoms of Dental Cavities
While practicing proper dental hygiene (brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing, using mouthwash, and scheduling regular dental visits) is a great way to protect your oral health and keep your smile shining, cavities can still form. This is a common problem that people face even with great efforts to avoid. Cavities can lead to worse problems, so catching them early is important.
Cavities are caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria. When the bacteria burrow into your tooth enamel, it’s cauled a cavity. It will require a dental filling to prevent a toothache and stop the bacteria from spreading.
A good way to be proactive in your oral health is to know the most common side effects of cavities, which are:
- Tooth Sensitivity: This is a very common side effect of cavities that can cause sharp or fleeting pain when eating hot or cold foods and beverages. If you notice an unpleasant reaction to different temperatures then you may have a cavity.
- Toothache: This pain can start as a mild throbbing and progress to intense pain. If you experience a consistent throbbing pain throughout the day, especially when you bite down, then you should seek dental intervention.
- Visible Holes or Discoloration: This is a symptom that creates a change in the physical appearance of your tooth. This change indicates that you have a dental issue. You may see small pits or holes on the tooth’s surface, or your tooth might seem darker than the surrounding teeth, these are both symptoms of tooth decay.
- Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste: If you experience foul-smelling breath or an unpleasant taste, even after practicing proper dental hygiene. This is common with cavities because the bacteria produce bad-smelling gasses. If you notice your bad breath or someone else has, you should probably get it checked out.
- Painful Chewing: If you experience pain or discomfort when chewing then the decay might have affected your nerves and the tissues within the tooth.
If any of these symptoms persist then it is a good idea to call and schedule an appointment with our dental office to protect your oral health and bring you back to a pain-free smile.
Treatment for Cavities
A common service for treating cavities is a dental filling. This works by cleaning out the decayed portion of the tooth and sealing it with a strong tooth-colored material. This filling acts as a protective barrier, guarding the tooth from harmful bacteria and plaque, preventing further decay.
Before proceeding with the treatment, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic, ensuring that the entire process is pain-free and comfortable for you. The entire procedure is quite efficient and is typically completed in a single visit.
Post-treatment, your tooth will not only return to its normal function but will also regain its natural appearance. Furthermore, with proper oral hygiene, the restored tooth can last for many years, providing you with a long-term solution to cavities. You should be able to eat and drink normally post-procedure and shouldn’t experience any lingering discomfort.
Call Today and Protect Your Oral Health!
Recognize the signs of cavities so you can get treatment before the decay progresses. Regular dental check-ups and proper dental hygiene are great preventative foundations that protect your oral health.
Early cavity detection can save you from pain and complicated dental work. Schedule a dental appointment with McCullough Dental to protect your oral health and keep your smile feeling pain-free.