10 Signs You Need To Go To A Dentist Before Christmas

From pies to cake and chocolate, it can be tough to maintain a healthy smile during the holidays. Dental problems are easiest to treat when detected early, so regardless of our busy schedules this holiday season, understanding the importance of taking care of our oral needs before letting that toothache turn into something more serious, is a priority too.

Here are 10 signs you need to go to the dentist before Christmas

Tooth pain or tooth sensitivity

If you woke up one day with throbbing tooth pain when trying to bite into anything, cold, hot, hard or soft, you might want to schedule an appointment to see your dentist.

This could be the cause of a cavity, which should not be ignored because the bacteria in your mouth could infect the tooth causing the infection to spread to other parts of your body.

Your gums are acting up

This could mean, bleeding or swollen gums when you floss or brush every day; it's essential to make that appointment.

Bleeding gums are an indicator for gingivitis, which is a serious infection, and can cause teeth loosening or even falling out.

Jaw pain

Feeling any sort of pain when you chew and opening and closing your jaw.

This is definitely something you do not want to ignore and have to deal with during the holidays.

Persistent canker sores that won't seem to go away

This should not be ignored and can be a sign of a serious problem, contact your dentist if you suffer from canker sores.

Persistent bad breath

If you have bad breath even after flossing daily and brushing twice a day, you might want to contact your dentist.

If the bad breath doesn't go away, you may have a more serious underlying condition such as a liver or kidney disorder and diabetes.

Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing

This is not the norm. When this problem occurs, try eating soft or liquefied foods until you're able to see your dentist.

You have dry mouth

Always feeling dehydrated could be the sign of a medical issue such as tooth and gum decay or even a medication side effect.

You've had recent dental work done

This could include fillings, crowns, implants and other dental work; as time goes by, there's a definite chance the work can loosen.

See your dentist regularly to make sure everything's in tip top shape.

White spots on teeth

This indicates early stages of tooth decay and if detected early, it is possible to stop the decay process even before a cavity fully forms.

Chronic headaches

Often people don't realize chronic headaches could be a dental issue.

Teeth grinding often causes headaches.

Be smart and pay attention to these symptoms before taking off for the holidays. If you experience any signs of the above symptoms, call and schedule an appointment with your dentist today. Even if you do not have any of these symptoms, regular checkups are important because they can help prevent problems from developing and treat existing symptoms before they worsen. Stay healthy and happy this holiday season!