Signs That You Need to See a Los Alamitos Dentist

Visiting a Los Alamitos dentist can be easy to neglect. Your everyday life gets in the way, and you end up with no time at all to make an appointment. Keeping up with dental visits can seem challenging, but not going can be detrimental to your health. When you don't pay adequate attention to your teeth, they can become infected and decayed, causing unrepairable damage to your oral health. Even when it is hard, it is important to make your oral hygiene a priority. In between visits, here are a few tell-tale signs that you need to see a dentist.

Your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold: This can be a sign that you have holes in your enamel, some decay developing or a damaged tooth.  In this scenario, you should seek treatment right away.

• Gum inflammation: If your gums bleed when you brush and floss or you notice they are puffy or swollen, you may have a gum infection. 
• Bad breath: Bad breath can be a sign of gingivitis or an infection. Get this checked out before you risk a worse infection. 
• Pain and swelling in mouth or face: General pain and swelling in your mouth, around your face, or on your neck can be a sign of infection. It could be swollen lymph nodes notifying you of infection in your teeth or gums or even a dental abscess.
• If you use tobacco: Using tobacco can lead to cancer, even in your mouth. It is important to see a Los Alamitos dentist so that we can tell you if there are any early signs of cancer. 
• Dry mouth: Dry mouth can mean you have bacteria or infection in your mouth. It can also lead to tooth decay because your mouth needs saliva to keep teeth clean. 
• White spots on your teeth: White spots can mean you have decay in your teeth. This is one of the earliest signs. 
• Metallic taste in your mouth: This metallic taste could mean you have gingivitis or even Periodontal disease, both being serious conditions. 
• Jaw popping: If you notice a painful popping when you open or close your mouth, you could have an uneven bite or an infection.  You could also have TMJ, something that can be treated with an oral appliance.
• Canker sores: If you commonly have canker sores or have them for a long period, it could be the result of a worse infection or bad bacteria in your mouth. 

Any of these signs or general pain, discoloration, sensitivity, or bad tastes in your mouth could mean that you have decay or infection. It is important that you visit our Los Alamitos dentist office as soon as you experience these problems. If you ignore these signs, it could lead to worse infection. If you allow worse infections to remain, it could lead to tooth loss, gum loss, or intense pain and swelling. Don't wait and cost yourself more time and money. Keeping up with regular dental care is the best way to stay in good health and to avoid needing emergency dental care.