How do I know if I have a cavity?

Tooth decay, also known as cavities or dental caries, is the most common oral and dental health problem and “is a major public health problem” (source). Recent decades have seen a significant decrease in the prevalence of tooth decay as a dental disease, but the problem still persists among both children and adults. 

ABOUT TOOTH DECAY

Statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012, found the following to be true (source):

  • 37% of children aged 2 to 8 years of age had dental caries in their primary teeth

  • 58% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years had dental caries in their permanent teeth

  • 90% of adults aged 20 and older had dental caries

Even if those percentages have declined since the study was published, the statistics are still staggering. 90% of adults! Essentially that means that if you are reading this, you probably have a cavity.

With the prevalence of tooth decay, you may be tempted to think that having cavities is not a major health concern, but the opposite is true. Cavities, in the early stages of decay, can be treated easily, but the longer a cavity is left untreated, the more likely it is to cause serious health problems. An untreated cavity can needlessly affect your health, quality of life and can even cause serious infection with the potential for infection to spread to other parts of your body.

 

The earlier the stage of tooth decay, the more easily your dentist will be able to treat the dental disease. Untreated cavities can lead to serious dental and oral health issues.

 

So how do you know if you have a cavity? What are the first symptoms of dental cavities? Is the dentist the only one who can tell you that you have a cavity? Can you have a cavity without any symptoms?

SYMPTOMS OF TOOTH DECAY

When it comes to dental cavities, some symptoms that indicate you may be suffering from tooth decay include:

  • Tooth sensitivity or a toothache in certain area of your tooth or teeth

  • Tooth pain when eating, drinking, biting or chewing

  • Sensitivity to sugary or sour foods or to hot or cold liquids

  • Spots on the surface of your teeth, regardless of color (may be white, brown or black)

  • Any visible holes, dents or “cavities” in your tooth’s enamel

  • Any dull or persistent pain in your teeth or jaw

If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms of dental cavities, you may have dental cavities. If so, it is important to have your tooth decay treated as soon as possible in order to prevent further decay, which may lead to more expensive procedures such as root canal therapy or even extraction and implant dentistry. 

The best way to know if you have a cavity is to book an appointment with a dentist near you. If it has been longer than 6 months since your last dental exam, chances are you may be one of the statistics listed above. Call WoodSprings Dentistry to book an appointment for a dental exam and professional cleaning. Dentists in The Woodlands and Spring, TX, Drs. Samantha and James Tejada, can check for tooth decay and provide a custom treatment plan depending on the level of decay found. 

Don’t have a dentist or are you looking for a new dentist in The Woodlands or Spring areas? WoodSprings Dentistry provides modern general and cosmetic dental care in a comfortable environment with luxury amenities and sedation dentistry options so that even the most anxious of patients can feel at ease. Book your appointment today to discover a different kind of dentistry.

Joelle Allen