Your mouth and body have something in common, aside from being interconnected. They both will let you know when something isn't right within the sort of pain and discomfort and through unsightly visible symptoms such as sores and bleeding cuts.
Pain, whether it is jaw pain or in the form of canker sores in the mouth, sensitivity, and discomfort such as the chronic dry mouth and bad breath and bleeding gums, should raise some red flags.
No matter what your pain, discomfort or oral health condition is, here are some common issues and possible underlying causes behind them:
Bleeding Gums
Gums that bleed easily need to be checked out by your dentist as soon as possible as it is the prominent sign of gum disease. Gums also can become red, swollen and inflamed which can be uncomfortable. Gum disease, in its early stages, is common and can easily be treated and reversed. When gum disease progresses into periodontal disease, the more serious form of gum disease, more extensive treatment will be necessary and the damage may not be reversible. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss and the weakening of the bone tissue in the jaws.
Tooth Pain and Sensitivity
We've all had those times when our teeth temporarily ached due to consuming something ice-cold or scalding hot. When this tooth sensitivity and pain become chronic, however, there may be a potentially serious underlying cause.
Both tooth sensitivity and pain are commonly caused by the weakening of the tooth enamel due to improper care, trauma to the tooth, tooth decay or as a side-effect of certain medication.
Depending on the severity of the sensitivity and pain, you may need to see a dentist and have the tooth professionally treated. At other times, at-home care can suffice. A dental appointment, however, is recommended either way, especially if the sensitivity or pain came on suddenly.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain doesn't have to be severe to take a toll on your well-being. Constant, dull pain in the jaw can be just as bad as a quick, intense, stabbing jaw pain.
Jaw pain can be caused by headaches, abscessed teeth, sinus issues, pinched jaw and face nerves, or a broken or fractured jaw. In some instances, jaw pain can indicate a heart attack so it's important to not overlook your jaw pain and see your dentist.
Bad Breath
Everyone has bad breath when they wake up each morning. What if your bad breath is especially pungent and it stays around for most of the day no matter what you do?
Bad breath is embarrassing and can negatively impact your quality of life. Bad breath has many causes ranging from poor oral hygiene, certain foods, gingivitis and tobacco use to infections in the mouth, sinus, and throat.
Dry Mouth
Always feeling thirsty isn't pleasant. Unfortunately, patients who have chronic dry mouth settle with this inconvenience thinking that their dry mouth is a harmless discomfort they must live with.
Besides the uncomfortable feeling of thirst and the embarrassing bad breath that comes from dry mouth, there are other serious conditions such as the increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay that can result from dry mouth.
Dry mouth is caused by the lack of adequate saliva production. Many medications can cause dry mouth and some serious health conditions such as diabetes, stress, and various autoimmune disorders can result in a decrease in saliva production. Smoking, aging and cancer radiation treatment can also dry the mouth out.
Canker Sores
Sores are often a sign of an infection. Canker sores in the mouth can be a painful nuisance and they can be embarrassing.
If you notice sores in your mouth, it is encouraged that you see your dentist as the cause can be something severe.
Common causes of canker sores in the mouth are from irritation of the soft tissue of the mouth from friction due to braces, retainers and ill-fitting dentures, brushing one's teeth and gums too hard, and tobacco use. Health conditions such as herpes can also cause sores in the mouth. In rare cases, canker sores in the mouth are caused by cancer of the mouth, which can be fatal if not treated early.
It can be easy to overlook and tough it out and deal with aches and pains of the mouth. Some of their causes, however, affect your oral and overall health. From poor dental hygiene to tooth decay to possible cancer, these causes of common oral concerns should be checked out by your dentist.