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February 14, 2017Three Signs of a Bad Tooth
Dr. Prashant Rao, DDS, a Charlotte native and NYU-trained dentist, specializes in esthetics, dental implants, and preventative dentistry.
Having cavities in your teeth is just a mess. On top of dealing with the pain you have to make multiple trips to the dentist to have the thing fixed. However, as it is with any sort of ailment, the sooner a cavity or ‘bad tooth’ is caught, the easier it is to handle, treat and endure. So if you suspect that one or more of your teeth are going “bad” due to any reason but are unsure – here are three tell-tale signs to look out for:
The Color:
Ideally, you need to brush your teeth twice a day. This prevents all sorts of dental issues. So whilst brushing, take a look at the troublesome tooth if you can. Look at its color and compare it with the surrounding teeth. Your teeth don’t have to be stark white to notice a tooth that is a little off. Look for any brown or unusual coloring, either in the form of a stain or small dots. These could be the beginnings of a cavity and need to be checked out immediately.
You Feel Pain:
Chew carefully and try to exert pressure on that tooth. If you feel a twinge or pain or any inflammation in the gums near that tooth, chances are, the roots are rotting or at least getting attacked by bacteria. If you feel such pain or irritation, contact a dentist immediately.
There’s a bad odor in your mouth:
If you’ve been brushing regularly and haven’t changed your routine, there’s no reason for your mouth and gums to smell bad. If, especially while eating, you feel your mouth fill with a bad odor or taste for no reason, there might be a pus pocket damaging your tooth. These release pus when put pressure upon whilst eating or chewing. Sometimes, these damage your tooth silently while you might not notice a discoloration on the tooth itself or even pain in the initial stages because these silently attack and rot away your roots. If you feel such an odor or taste in your mouth, get your tooth checked immediately.
Apart from the aforementioned points, if you feel for any reasons whatsoever that your tooth is being damaged, be sure to get it checked by your dentist. Remember that what isn’t visible to the eye might be revealed in an x-ray or to a dentist so never leave anything to chance.
