What is a cavity? Cavities are permanently damaged areas that occur in the hard areas of your teeth. They develop into small holes or openings in the tooth. Cavities develop for several reasons. Some of the most common reasons why cavities form include:
- a lack of teeth brushing, which causes high amounts of bacteria in the mouth
- eating and drinking sugary items
- consuming excessive amounts of acidic food and drink
When your teeth are hurting, this could be one of the early signs of a cavity forming. Most of us have gone through the unpleasant experience of getting a cavity. Thankfully, any dentist can repair cavities and restore the tooth, so that it no longer causes pain or discomfort.
If you believe you have a cavity, check whether you have these seven following signs of a cavity forming:
Sign #1: Tooth sensitivity
One of the early signs of a cavity forming is that your tooth will be very sensitive to any sensation. This includes breathing in hot or cold air and eating anything that is hot, cold, or sweet.
You will notice discomfort where the cavity is located. If you have had some tooth sensitivity for a while, it can be a sign that a cavity is developing. It’s best to visit your dentist for a check-up before this gets any worse.
Sign #2: Tooth stains
Cavities wear down the surface of your tooth, which is called enamel. Since the hole develops in the protective layer of your tooth, you may start to notice that that area of the tooth is changing colour and becoming darker.
This may be caused by other reasons, such as drinking liquids that cause your teeth to stain like coffee. However, it is most likely one of the signs of a cavity forming in your teeth.
Sign #3: Toothache
If you’ve had a cavity for some time, you will start to develop a toothache in the affected tooth. The toothache might be a dull ache, a sharp pain, or constant pain in one area. The toothache may be accompanied by a fever or even a headache.
The infected tooth may have swelling around it and may have foul-tasting drainage coming from the tooth. If you’re experiencing a toothache for a long period of time, it’s time to visit a dentist, especially if you have a fever, a sore ear, or pain whenever you open your mouth wide.
Sign #4: Pain as you bite down
When you have a cavity and you bite down, depending on the location of the cavity, it can cause sharp pain and sensitivity. This may make it harder for you to eat, especially if you are eating something crunchy that takes a lot of chewing.
You may even feel a sharp jolt if you bite down too hard. This can be one of the annoying signs of a cavity or an underlying issue with your teeth.
Sign #5: Pain as you eat or drink
When you take a sip of your morning coffee, does it cause your tooth pain? What about when you dig into a bowl of ice cream? If you’re having tooth pain while eating or drinking things like this, it could be another early sign of a cavity.
Whenever things start to feel out of the ordinary in your mouth, it’s usually a strong indication that something isn’t right. If you’re concerned about pain in your mouth, especially pain that just started and seemed to come from nowhere, it may be time to consult with your dentist. They can help you get to the bottom of the issue and come up with a solution.
Sign #6: Visible holes in your tooth
Have you looked in the mirror lately and noticed a small hole in your tooth? When cavities form, they usually create holes in the surface of your mouth. If you’re noticing a hole that wasn’t always there, and you have some of the other signs of a cavity, it may be another symptom that a cavity has formed in your mouth.
Don’t be too concerned. A dentist can treat the area and repair it, or recommend dental implants as a possible treatment. Make an appointment with your dentist and they can find a solution to get your tooth back into tip-top shape.
Sign #7: Pits in your tooth
Similar to holes in your tooth, cavities also cause pits in your teeth. This is particularly dangerous as food can get stuck in these pits causing further irritation and symptoms. This symptom usually happens when you’ve had a cavity for some time.
The best way to avoid this is to get your teeth checked out as soon as you start to notice that something isn’t right. That way, your dentist can treat it before it develops into something worse and you need a root canal or other more invasive dental procedure.
