28 Sep

You know how it is: you’re out and about and suddenly realize that your back molar has been bothering you for a few days.

You quickly reach for some floss or an empty travel-sized toothpaste tube so you can DIY some temporary relief. But as soon as the sharp pain subsides, you begin to wonder if it’s worth going to see a dentist. Wouldn’t they just want to replace the filling anyway? What if something even more serious was wrong with my tooth? You think to yourself. After all, we’ve all heard those terrifying stories of people who refuse professional dental care and end up having their teeth die… right? And aren’t fillings like permanent anyway–so does it matter if I put off going to the dentist?

Fortunately, it DOES matter. Here are some warning signs that you should not ignore:

1. You have a pain that is unrelieved by what you can personally provide, like ibuprofen or applying pressure with your fingers. Professional dental care can decrease your sensitivity and help your filling last longer! There’s no point in refusing to go–you’re only doing yourself harm. Remember, flossing or using an empty toothpaste tube isn’t enough for relief if you have dental pain! If the pain persists, see a professional immediately. This means today! Don’t wait another day thinking “It’ll be worse tomorrow” because it won’t–and there could be serious consequences of putting it off.

2. You have a pain that indicates something is very, very wrong with your tooth (or jaw or sinus or ear). Sharp, unbearable pain in the jaw can indicate an infection or a cyst–if you wait until tomorrow it might be too late!

3. The filling pops out without any pressure being applied to it. If this happens, there could be serious underlying problems with your tooth and/or gums which will only get worse if they are ignored. Even if not, popping a filling out isn’t exactly safe since it means that the cavity has been aggravated by bacteria from food that you eat. If you lose one of your fillings, go to see a dentist immediately so they can put things back in order–and to make sure that you’re cavity-free.

4. The filling falls out in pieces, indicating that it is probably old and worn down by years of brushing or grinding or biting on it. If this happens, bring your tooth in to see the dentist! It could be a sign of serious decay underneath which can lead to much more damage.

5. The filling cracks, chips, or otherwise looks misshapen. This can occur naturally with age but it’s also caused by chewing on hard items like ice cubes or eating too many crunchy foods. A cracked filling doesn’t have to be painful but it should definitely be taken to the dentist so they can take preventative measures before things get worse!

6. The tooth develops a visible hole or crack. Visit the dentist as soon as possible! Your tooth may be absorbing bacteria and chemicals from foods you eat which could lead to much more serious problems if ignored.

7. The filling becomes misshapen or starts to pull away on its own accord–even just slightly, like it has done before in the past. If this happens, your filling is old and needs to be replaced! But don’t wait–bringing your tooth in for professional dental care right away will help prevent further damage.

8. The filling begins widening on either side of itself or around where it joins with its neighboring teeth (look at the blue arrow on the picture below). This can happen naturally over time but it’s also caused by chewing on hard items like ice cubes or eating too many crunchy foods. A wide filling doesn’t have to be painful but it should definitely be taken to the dentist so they can take preventative measures before things get worse!

9. The tooth feels unnaturally soft or spongy, especially if you bite down on it and feel it give way. This is your tooth dying–meaning that there’s damage underneath which needs immediate professional dental care! You may eat food that just sticks in this same affected area of the tooth because you can’t chew normally without feeling pain. Even if there isn’t any pain, bring your tooth in for an inspection as soon as possible! Your tooth might be absorbing bacteria and chemicals from foods you eat which could lead to much more serious problems if ignored.

10. The tooth becomes loose, separating from the rest of your mouth like it’s trying to escape (look at the red arrow on the picture below). There could be serious underlying problems with your tooth and/or gums which will only get worse if they are ignored. Even if not, loosening teeth is hazardous because it means that cavities underneath have been aggravated by bacteria from food that you eat. If you lose one of your fillings, go see a dentist immediately so they can put things back in order–and to make sure that you’re cavity-free!

11. You experience pain when chewing or biting down on one side of your mouth even though everyone else says everything seems fine. Some of the most common reasons your teeth hurt when you bite on them:

– Infection: this can be a result of food getting stuck and bacteria overrunning it

– Decay: if left ignored, decay will only get worse; cause pain and lead to serious problems!

– Missing old filling(s), which are needed to protect the tooth but have since fallen out

– Old filling(s): your tooth absorbs chemicals from foods that you eat which damages the protective enamel layer underneath. Very small holes in the enamel are harmless, but they do need to be filled by dental professionals as soon as possible so they don’t become full-blown cavities! All these issues should be addressed–politely–by visiting the dentist. The best way to get the treatment you need is simply not to put it off!

12. Tooth pain can also be caused by something very simple–like biting down on an ice cube or eating too many crunchy foods!! If your tooth doesn’t hurt when you bite into things, you’re lucky–but if it does, go see a dentist ASAP because there could be much more serious problems at hand! Even if not, chewing on hard items like ice cubes and crunchy foods is bad for your teeth and can eventually lead to further damage.

13. You grind your teeth at night without realizing it–meaning they take a lot of wear and tear which needs professional attention as soon as possible! Grinding your teeth is