How to Know if You Have a Cavity

Cavities aren’t always obvious. While there are classic symptoms of toothaches or visible holes in your teeth, you can’t count on these red-flag symptoms to pop up when the cavity is small. But combating tooth decay early is key to preventing it from spreading elsewhere in your mouth.

How can you tell you have a cavity? Watch for these common warning signs:

Sensitivity to sweets. Sweet foods and drinks are particularly known for causing pain if you have a cavity. The sweet flavor can come from something as simple as fruit juice or flavored coffee creamer.

Floss shredding between your teeth. Cavities cause rough, sharp edges in the enamel around them. So, if you’re flossing but the strand keeps shredding or breaking in the same area, you might have a cavity in that location.

Food getting caught whenever you eat. When there’s a physical hole inside of your tooth, food will almost always find it. If you have a trouble spot that’s always accumulating food debris, be sure to have it checked out.

Something feeling “off” or funny about your tooth. Maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but your tooth just seems like there’s something weird going on.

Are You Due for a Checkup?

A lot of cavities will never hurt, regardless of how large they are. If it’s been six months or more since your last dental checkup, you’re due for an exam. A brief evaluation and basic X-rays will help rule out any cavities before they spread to adjacent teeth. Or worse, cause an abscessed tooth.

Call our Marietta dentist today to reserve your exam and tooth decay screening.