Good oral health and hygiene are important for so many reasons, not least the fact that being able to smile with confidence is such a good thing to be able to do.
You can often get a feeling that something is not right with your teeth and an issue such as a loose or missing filling is something that needs your urgent attention.
Making an appointment with someone like Bridgewater Family Dental practice will ensure that you get seen by a professional and have the problem dealt with promptly.
But how do you know if you have a problem with a filling?
Tooth pain that wasn’t there before
You might have teeth that are sensitive to changes in temperature and that means you really notice the difference when you drink something hot or have a cold treat like ice cream.
However, if you notice a more sudden and unexplained pain this could be an indication that a filling may have fallen out.
This pain can be caused when the tissues that have been protected by your filling are now exposed and causing you to experience sudden pain.
If the pain persists you should definitely get this checked out to see if there is a problem with a filling.
Increased sensitivity
You know what your usual tolerance is to hot and cold foods. Any increase in that level of sensitivity is often an indication that you might have lost a filling.
It is the same scenario as above. Without the protection of a filling, you will be more exposed to the prospect of experiencing heightened sensitivity.
Do your best to avoid aggravating the situation by limiting your exposure to extremes of hot and cold while you wait for your dentist appointment.
Look for a crack or a hole
Take a look in a mirror and see if you can spot any noticeable crack or hole that has appeared in a tooth.
You can often run your tongue along the tooth line to notice any difference. Inspect the problem area to see if there is any inflammation in the area where a filling once was.
Food getting trapped
If you have lost a filling it is highly likely that food will find its way into that newly created crevice.
It is a common indicator of a missing or broken filling when you start to notice that food is getting trapped where a filling used to be.
It is perfectly normal to get food trapped after you have eaten and you can usually address this issue with dental floss or a toothpick. It’s a different matter if food is being trapped as a result of a missing filling and you will need to see a dentist as quickly as possible to get it repaired and replaced.
Restoring your smile and confidence is often straightforward if you get the right dental help as quickly as possible. If you notice any of the issues mentioned you should get a dentist to check whether you have lost a filling and get it fixed without delay.