One of the most commonly faced oral health problems are cavities. Cavities are caused when your tooth’s enamel decays resulting in holes in your tooth. If left unaddressed a cavity can deteriorate further into your tooth and cause a great deal of damage.

Some tell tale signs of cavities include:

• Sudden toothache
• Increased tooth sensitivity,
• Unexpected pain when eating/drinking something hot, cold, or sweet
• Holes in your teeth that you can see or feel
• The appearance of stains on the surface of a tooth
• Pain when pressure is put on a teeth

If you have these symptoms or others that cause you to believe you have a cavity, call our office at (904) 268-5600 and schedule a dental appointment with the dentist.

Periodontal disease, also referred to as gum disease, is an infection of your gums. It’s caused plaque on your gum’s tissue that has been allowed to build up and harden.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Swollen or reddened gums
• Sore or bleeding gums
• Bad breath that’s doesn’t go away after brushing
• It has become painful to chew food
• A tooth unexpectedly falls out
• A receding gum line or your teeth appearing to be longer than normal

The best defense against gum disease is a well-established oral healthcare routine that involves brushing, flossing and regular dental exam visits to our dental office.

If you experience these systems, give us a call at (904) 268-5600 and schedule an appointment with one our dentists.

Are you one of the 40 million adults in the US who experience tooth sensitivity? Overly sensitive teeth can be a frustrating condition to live with.

The underlying condition of tooth sensitivity is called dentin hypersensitivity. Dentin is the primary substance the inside of a tooth is made up of. Dentin contains minute tubules that contain minuscule nerve endings. These nerve endings are normally protected by the enamel that surrounds your tooth, but if this enamel gets worn down or removed these nerve endings are left exposed. When they come into contact with an acidic, hot, or cold substance it can cause a great deal of pain.

If you’re suffering from tooth sensitivity contact our office and schedule an appointment. Let them know when the tooth sensitivity started and if there’s anything that you do that typically helps relieve the pain. Once the underlying problem is identified our dental office will be able to treat the underlying problem.

Oral cancer is an extremely serious disease and an extremely important reasons to have regular oral examinations at our dental office. Though oral cancer can be deadly it is often treatable if diagnosed in its early stages.

During the earliest stages of oral cancer there may be no symptoms, though tobacco users, heavy drinkers and HPV carriers have an increased risk of developing oral cancer.

Some symptoms include:

• Lumps or rough areas in the mouth
• Mouth sores or ulcers that do not heal on their own
• Red/red and white colored patches along the mouth or tongue lining
• Persistent swelling
• Painful swallowing or feeling like something is persistently in your throat
• Consistent stiffness or pain in your jaw

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it does not mean you have oral cancer; however, you should give us a call (904) 268-5600 and schedule an oral examination as soon as possible.

Many people may not consider bad breath a dental condition, but persistent bad breath (Halitosis), even after brushing may be a symptom of a larger dental condition. Using mouthwash, mints or anything else will only be an attempt at masking the underlying issue.

Some underlying causes of persistent bad breath:

• Periodontal disease
• Tooth infection
• Dry mouth / Xerostomia
• Oral mucous cysts

If you’re experience persistent bad breath that won’t go away even after brushing your teeth, call our dentist office today - (904) 268-5600 - and schedule a dental examination and let us help you find and treat the underlying cause.