It seems to be a universal human tendency to ignore problems, hoping that they will somehow go away on their own. Sometimes, this approach actually works. Some things tend to work themselves out without much effort on your part. However, this is never the case with dental issues. Left untreated, dental issues can quickly escalate into major problems, causing extreme pain, irreversible damage, and expensive intervention.
Cavities
When cavities are caught early, a simple filling in the enamel is all that is needed. However, if you don’t have your cavities filled, the decay will spread beyond your enamel and penetrate your roots. Also, the bacteria from a growing cavity can spread onto other surrounding teeth, causing even more cavities to form. When a cavity goes untreated, the tooth can literally rot away. It also leads to serious infection and possible tooth loss. Because cavities should be treated before you can feel them, it is important to visit your dentist every six months for preventative care. With regular visits to the dentist, a cavity will never get out of control.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. While some people have plenty of space for the wisdom teeth to emerge without causing crowding, many people do not. Your dentist will begin watching the emergence process early on to assess the positioning of the teeth and to see if crowding will become an issue. When there is insufficient space, a wisdom tooth can become impacted. This is when the tooth is stuck below your gum surface, growing sideways and causing complications. If you have had braces, you don’t want your wisdom teeth to undo all the hard work you underwent to get your teeth aligned. Wearing your retainer can help prevent wisdom teeth from crowding your other teeth.
Bleeding Gums
Healthy gums don’t bleed. If your gums are painful and bleeding, see your dentist right away. Early on, gum problems are usually due to gingivitis. Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease, and it can be reversed. However, when gingivitis is left unchecked, it can progress to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis is incurable, and without early treatments, it will lead to tooth loss.
You want your teeth to last a lifetime. You might have any number of reasons to procrastinate going to the dentist, but none of them are worth losing teeth or compromising your health. Visit a dentist regularly, and don’t ever let issues get out of control.
Check out this article on how to save on healthcare costs in the long-term!
