Don't Wait Until It Hurts to Seek Treatment for Tooth Decay
You may not immediately realize you have tooth decay, but a delay in seeking treatment can increase your risk of infection, abscess, and tooth loss. Regular visits to the dental team here at West Georgia Family Dentistry in Douglasville and Bremen for professional teeth cleaning, dental exams, x-rays, and other preventative care can catch early warning signs of tooth decay before it becomes more serious. If you’re concerned about your oral health, keep an eye out for some of the risks associated with tooth decay.
Warning Signs of Tooth Decay
Please note: small amounts of tooth decay have no symptoms at all. Most decay is found at the time of exam. For teeth with significant decay or cavities, the most common warning signs are:
- Tooth sensitivity to sweets or cold
- Chronic toothaches or spontaneous pain with no obvious cause
- Visible holes or pits in the teeth
- Brown, black, or white stains on any part of the tooth
- Pain when eating or biting down
When to Visit a Dentist
You may not be aware that a dental cavity is forming or that you’re showing early warning signs of tooth decay. Visiting our dental team twice a year will catch the signs and symptoms early enough that they can be treated without tooth loss or infection. If you notice any of the early warning signs of tooth decay, if it has been over a year since your last visit to the dentist, or if you have tooth pain and/or sensitivity that is making it hard to eat or sleep, schedule an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible.
Possible Complications and Risks Associated with Tooth Decay
Tooth decay and dental cavities don’t go away on their own—they become bigger and more painful as time goes on. Without treatment, the pain associated with tooth decay will get worse. You are also at significant risk of an infection that can travel from your mouth throughout your body, affecting your overall health and internal organs. Untreated tooth decay can also lead to painful, dangerous dental abscesses. In time, without proper treatment, tooth decay will necessitate a tooth extraction of one or more of your teeth.
Visit Our Offices Today for a Full Dental Exam and Teeth Cleaning
If you’re showing early warning signs of tooth decay or haven’t been to the dentist recently, contact us today at West Georgia Family Dentistry. Our experienced dental team offers safe, comfortable general dental services to patients of all ages, and we also specialize in cosmetic dentistry, dental prosthetics, periodontal therapy, and orthodontics.
Please contact our Douglasville office at (770) 949-1680 or our Bremen office at (770) 537-9656 to schedule an appointment.
Posted In:
Dentist
Tooth Decay
Cavities
