Pain or Swelling in Mouth
At some point, it is more than likely you have felt sensitivity to a hot or cold drink, bleeding gums or even a tingling sensation in your mouth. Any tissue in your mouth with nerve endings can experience pain and swelling including your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks. In order to relieve the pain and swelling, the dentist can diagnose and treat the underlying condition to get you back to feeling good.
Mouth Sores
Most commonly sores in the mouth are canker sores or small ulcers on the soft tissue in your mouth. They are easy to spot with white centers and red borders. They are noticeable from the burning and irritation even before they are visible. Most of the time canker sores will heal on their own, but if they persist or you are not healing on their own, be sure to make an appointment with the dentist. The usual treatments include antimicrobial rinses, antibiotic prescriptions, or even topical steroids.
Mouth or Tooth Injury
After an accident, a bit lip, burned roof of your mouth, or a cracked tooth will cause you discomfort and may need medical attention. Your lip’s swelling will decrease and the roof of your mouth will heal on its own, but if you have cracked or chipped your tooth, the dentist will need to treat the problem before the pain and swelling go away. You may not be able to see the crack with your eye, but dentist will be able to see it on an X-ray and treat it before infection jeopardizes your whole tooth.
Tooth Decay
If you pain is not constant at first or you notice it throbbing, the pain may be a sign that you have tooth decay. Other indications that this is your problem would be sensitivity to hot or cold, tenderness when biting down or even pain when eating sugary foods. Only a dentist can treat your tooth decay and prevent any further damage to your teeth. The dentist may use a filling or even a root canal to save your tooth and keep your mouth healthy.
Dry Mouth
For some people, a chronic condition that prevents salivary glands from producing enough saliva to keep the mouth lubricated results in pain in the mouth. If your mouth is parched, you have halitosis, a rough tongue or cracked lips, you may be suffering from dry mouth. Your dentist or medical professional can help you change your diet and maybe your medications to improve your dry mouth.
Gum Disease
Gingivitis affects more than half the adults in America and is the first stage of gum disease. It starts with bleeding gums and plaque buildup along the gums but it can be reversed with a combination of your at home dental routine and professional dental treatment. It can progress to periodontitis which leads to tooth loss, gum loss and even bone loss. Be sure to talk to the dentist about your gum disease and the best ways to prevent it from permanently damaging your mouth.