No one wants cavities, and you go to great lengths to make sure your teeth are clean. You brush twice a day using a soft-bristled brush, you floss daily, you quit smoking, and you limit your intake of sugary foods and fizzy drinks. The problem is that often isn't sufficient to keep the cavities away. Even regular visits to your dentist for checkups and regular teeth cleaning sessions can't guarantee that you won’t get a cavity. What is guaranteed though is that the sooner you catch the cavity, the easier it is to fix it. So, what is it that you should be looking for?

Symptoms of a Cavity

The first sign that a cavity is forming is that you may notice the offending tooth is sensitive. When you drink hot or cold drinks, you may feel a little pain. The more developed the cavity, the worse the pain. Sweet liquids or foods may also cause some discomfort, but hot and cold generally causes the most.

You may be able to see the cavity forming. Depending on the location of the cavity on the tooth and the location of the tooth itself, you may be able to see the hole forming. This is a sure sign you should get to your dentist quickly. If you can see it, it is getting bad.

You might also have a toothache. This is when your tooth simply aches for no apparent reason. It may be mild or severe and could get worse when you bite down. This is another sure sign that you should see your dentist.

Sometimes there are no sign or symptoms of a cavity. You have no pain, you see no holes, and you aren’t sensitive to hot or cold. In this case only and x-ray can detect a cavity which is why regular dental checkups are so important. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at 408-248-1012.