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How To Know When It’s Time To See A Dentist 

Taking care of your teeth is a crucial part of life, especially when you consider you need them to eat properly, not to mention the fact that your teeth help you feel confident about how you look - assuming they’re in good condition. 

However, as much as we all know this, it can still take a long time to realize that it’s time to see a dentist. That might be because we don’t want to make a fuss over nothing, or because we just assume that whatever the issue is will heal itself. Yet taking care of teeth is exactly what a dentist is there for, and making an appointment to get something sorted out makes sense. With that in mind, here are some of the signs that should tell you it’s time to see a dentist. 

Photo by Anna Shvets

It’s Your Annual Check-Up

The easiest way to know that it’s time to see your dentist is that it’s written on your calendar because it’s such a routine part of your life. In other words, you know it’s time to see your dentist because it’s time for your annual check-up. 

Just like you’d have your car serviced, or get your gutters cleaned, or even go to an optician on a regular basis, you really should be seeing your dentist at least once a year for a check-up. That’s the case even if there’s nothing wrong (or you don’t think there’s anything wrong), as it’s the ideal opportunity for your dentist to take a look and make sure all is well. They can also give you advice about how to improve your dental hygiene and so on, and if there’s a problem, it can get dealt with sooner rather than later, whether that’s the fact that you need a professional clean, you should consider dental implants, or you’ve got a gum infection, for example. 

You’re In Pain

Another sure sign that it’s time to see your dentist is if you have toothache. Toothache can be a simple thing like your gums being irritated by a piece of food stuck between your teeth, and it can be something much more troubling, like an infected or even dead tooth. It can be these things and anything in between as well, and if the pain doesn’t go away after a day or so and painkillers aren’t doing much, you’ll need to make an appointment with your dentist. 

Toothache can be hugely disruptive to everyday life, and you might find you’re not able to work, drive, take care of the kids, get a good night’s sleep, or even eat - it’s wise to get things checked out and fixed sooner rather than later and get back to enjoying a pain-free life. 

Your Gums Are Bleeding

Bleeding gums can happen if you brush your teeth too hard, which is why it’s wise to listen to your dentist when they tell you how to do it properly. However, bleeding gums can be more serious, perhaps indicating an infection in your gums that could cause your teeth to fall out, for example. In the worst cases, the bacteria from the infection can get into your bloodstream and cause problems in other areas of your body, including your heart - it can be very nasty indeed. 

If your gums bleed every time you brush your teeth or perhaps when you eat, and it’s been going on for a little while, see your dentist. There are things that can be done for a gum infection, but if you leave it too long to get help, you might get seriously sick.