Ever felt that quick zap of pain, like an electric shock to your mouth, and decided to forget about it as soon as it disappeared?
It’s far too tempting to just ignore those infrequent twinges of pain, but the truth is, your teeth are trying to tell you something. It’s a warning – a tiny tooth’s cry for help – and you should get it checked sooner rather than later.
Because fillings, as annoying as they are, can become much more troublesome if left unchecked.
Why you shouldn’t procrastinate about tooth pain
Along with daily discomfort, tooth pain is pointing to a larger issue lurking beneath the surface of your teeth. That tiny hole or crack is a gateway for bacteria – especially from sugary foods – to bore its way deeper into the root of your teeth.
If you don’t get that cavity checked and filled, this can cause:
- Increased tooth pain severity and frequency
- Infected roots which can result in the need for a root canal or extraction
- Damage to jaw bone structure (if the infection is severe enough)
All this to say, leaving a cavity can lead to much more cost and discomfort down the road.
Signs you have a cavity
Though your dentist will need to examine your teeth to be sure, there are some surefire signs you could be dealing with a cavity.
Cavity symptoms can include:
- Sharp, zinging pain while chewing or biting down
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- A dull to severe ache at infrequent times of the day (without any apparent cause)
- A visible hole or pit in the tooth
- Discolouration such as brown, black or white staining
Get that cavity checked and filled sooner
There’s no doubt that leaving bacteria to ‘do its thing’ is not the best option in any case. So, the best thing to do at the first signs of a cavity is to book a dental exam, get that tooth checked, and get a filling before it gets any worse.
Benefits of getting a filling sooner
- Immediate pain relief
- Less tooth damage
- Less expensive in the long run (when compared with a more invasive procedure like a root canal or tooth extraction)
Protect your oral health today for bigger, brighter smiles tomorrow!
At Bow Island Dental, we’re all about doing everything we can to help you smile big and smile bright every single day. That means routine dental exams and teeth cleanings to make sure that bacteria can’t get a tiny foothold and wreak havoc with your oral health.
Not today, bacteria! Can we get an amen? 🙏