Glenview Dental Symptom Checker
1) Tooth Ache
If your mouth, jaw, and sometimes ears and head hurts, it could be from a toothache. Toothaches usually indicate a cavity but can also signal gum disease. In some cases, it can also be a sign of an abscess or impacted tooth. A toothache should be evaluated right away to determine the cause of the problem and prevent any further damage or infection.
2) Sensitive Teeth
If your teeth hurt when you drink hot or cold beverages, you may have sensitive teeth. This can be the result of tooth decay, fractured teeth, worn fillings, gum disease, worn tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root due to gum recession. Treatment will depend on the source of sensitivity but there are over the counter products and in office treatments available to help you.
3) Bleeding Gums
Bleeding or sore gums can be a sign of gingivitis, an early and reversible stage of periodontal / gum disease, or simply the result of scar from brushing too hard or starting a new flossing routine. If your gums bleed regularly, or enough to worry you, make an appointment !!!
4) Mouth Sores
Types of mouth sores include canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia and candidiasis. They vary in their severity and causes. Mouth sores could be the symptom of a disease or disorder; infection from bacteria, viruses or fungus or result from irritation caused by braces, dentures or the sharp edge of a broken tooth or filling. Your dentist should examine any mouth sore that lasts a week or longer.
5) Bad Breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, is caused by bacteria and can stem from 3 main sources. 1) teeth, 2) gums and tongue, and 3) stomach. Bad breath can be caused by what you eat, not cleaning your mouth, dry mouth, smoking or other medical conditions. Persistent bad breath can also be one of the warning signs of gum disease and/or dry mouth. Brushing twice a day and flossing daily are essential to reducing bad breath and preventing gum disease. Brushing your tongue can help too. If you’re concerned about what’s causing your bad breath, make your appointment today.
6) Jaw Pain, or Clicking / Popping of Jaw
Many things can cause these symptoms. Possible causes include sinus problems, toothache, arthritis, injury, teeth grinding, gingivitis or problems with your jaw like TMJ. TMJ is one of the most complex joints in your body. we will conduct a thorough exam to determine the source of the pain. There are therapies available to help manage your level of discomfort
7) Dry Mouth
If you have dry mouth it may be the symptom of a medical disorder or a side effect of certain medications. Saliva is the mouth’s primary and best defense against odor and tooth decay. It washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth.
8) Problems from Oral Piercings
Oral piercings can create a wide range of problems for your health, oral and otherwise. Your mouth is home to huge amounts of bacteria, creating an ideal place for infection to start. If you have any signs of infection—swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking or a red-streaked appearance around the site of the piercing—contact us or your physician immediately. In addition, oral piercings often contribute to a chipped or fractured tooth in case of an accident such as falling, and as harmless as chewing.
9) Cracked or Broken Tooth
A cracked or broken tooth can happen for a variety of reasons—brittle teeth, teeth grinding, cavity, injury. The crack may be invisible to the naked eye and even X-ray, but they can be incredibly painful and create bigger problems if left untreated. If you experience pain when chewing see us. We will diagnose and develop a plan for treatment.
10) Stained or Discolored Teeth
Over time your teeth can become stained and change color. This is often the result of eating certain foods, such as coffee or tea, smoking, aging, genetics, injury, or certain medications. We recommend a nice thorough cleaning followed by either or combination of the ZOOM in office and take home whitening treatments as available.