4 Signs You May Have A Cavity

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A cavity doesn't always present as a hole in your tooth. There are other, subtle changes to your dental health that may signify you have a cavity, such as toothache, pain when eating, bad breath, and sensitivity to temperatures.

#1 Toothache

A toothache may have to do with the condition of your teeth. If you have a cavity, this can cause you to experience pain from the gum around the infected tooth or from the tooth itself if the infection has spread to the roots and nerves of your tooth. The toothache could be dull and throbbing or it could be sharp and acute.

#2 Pain When Eating

When you eat, you should not experience pain in your mouth. If you suddenly start to experience localized paint when you are chewing, especially on harder foods, that could be a sign that you have a cavity somewhere in your mouth. Excess pressure on a cavity or nerve that is infected can cause you sharp pain while eating.

#3 Bad Breath

There are lots of different causes of bad breath beyond not brushing your teeth. If you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day and are experiencing bad breath, one of the causes of your bad breath could be a cavity in your mouth.

A cavity is essentially an area of your mouth where bacteria has taken root. Bacteria, in addition to doing damage to your teeth, also smells bad and can cause you to have bad breath no matter how often you brush your teeth.

It is important to note that bad breath can also be associated with other dental and larger medical conditions, so if you are experiencing chronic bad breath, work with your dentist and doctor to determine the cause.

#4 Sensitivity to Temperature

Your mouth is an incredible place that is able to handle both cold and hot temperatures. If you suddenly notice that your mouth seems more sensitive to hot and cold foods, or if it starts to feel unpleasant to eat foods that are really hot or really cold, you may have a cavity. A cavity, if it gets deep enough, can leave the nerve exposed. This allows you to feel the temperature of your food more acutely and can make eating really hot and really cold foods unpleasant.

If you are expiring bad breath, pain when eating, sensitivity to temperatures, and a toothache, these are all signs that you have a cavity. Get to your dentist and have them examine your mouth to get to the root of the problem. For more information, contact local professionals like those found at New Image Dental.


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