There’s a simple truth when it comes to dental care and that is, most people wait too long to get treatment. It’s completely understandable, after all, life is busy, dental anxiety is real, and appointments can often feel like a major inconvenience. When the pain or discomfort isn’t that bad, it can be all too easy to push thoughts of getting a check-up to the back of our minds. Dentistry however is one of those areas in healthcare where if you have a problem, early intervention can make all the difference. Here are five signs that show you it really can’t wait.
Even if it’s relatively mild or comes and goes from time to time, persistent pain is a sign that something isn’t right and it shouldn’t be ignored. The Oral Health Foundation reports that 20% of adults experience recurrent pain, with 38% admitting they only visit the dentist when they have severe pain. In our opinion, pain is best dealt with swiftly if you want to avoid more complex and expensive treatments further down the road. On top of that, the impact pain can have on sleep, and even your concentration can be detrimental to everyday life, so it’s important to get advice as soon as possible.
If bleeding gums are something you’re seeing regularly, it could signal an underlying problem. The issue is many people assume light bleeding when brushing is normal, but healthy gums shouldn’t bleed.
Bleeding can often be an early symptom of gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gum tissue. Left untreated this can progress to periodontitis, a more serious infection of the gums. Multiple studies show that gum disease can lead to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes so it’s worth someone taking a look to confirm whether treatment is needed.
While lots of people suffer from sensitive teeth, any new sensitivity to temperature or pressure indicates enamel loss, recession or internal tooth changes. Some sensitivity after certain dental treatments can be normal, but new or worsening sensations without an obvious cause always needs further investigation from your dentist.
Ulcers, red or white patches, lumps, difficulty swallowing or a persistent sore area that doesn’t go away can be an indicator of systemic changes in the body, including cancer. Most of the time it’s down to a benign cause, such as a minor trauma or viral illness, but anything in your mouth that hasn’t resolved or healed itself after two weeks definitely warrants a thorough assessment from your dentist.
Two years is the maximum recommended interval between check-ups according to NICE guidelines. Of course this is always a rule of thumb, and some people will need to be seen more regularly than this. So if you think your last appointment was longer than two years ago or you’ve started to notice things like a new pain, pressure or bite issue, don’t be afraid to get in touch sooner.
We understand it’s not always easy to carve time out for yourself but if something on this list sounds familiar, the most useful thing you can do today is book a check-up at our practice in Manchester. The sooner any of these issues are addressed, the more options you have and you can finally put your mind at ease.
