| Symptoms |
Likely Cause |
Treatment |
Prevention |
| Bad Breath |
| Odor from mouth;
bad, metallic taste; coated tongue |
Food caught around
and between teeth; infection in gums; improper brushing; sinusitis; digestive
problems, such as pre-ulcerative conditions; diabetes |
Practice good oral
hygiene, including rinsing with mouthwash; brush tongue often; see dentist
to evaluate throat, sinuses, tongue, and possible gum infection, and professionally
clean teeth and gums; review diet |
Regular dental
visits; flossing, brushing and rinsing; good nutrition |
| Broken
Tooth or Filling |
| Tooth feels sharp;
tooth sensitivity to temperature and pressure |
Accidental trauma;
decay; weak tooth from grinding or improper bite |
Do not irritate;
place piece of soft dental wax from drugstore over cracked or fractured
tooth; see a dentist for sealant, bonding, and restoration of tooth as
soon as possible |
Regular dental
checkups to discover possible weak teeth, decay, or large, unstable fillings |
| Canker
Sores |
| Painful red circular
area that develops on the tongue, gums, lips, or cheeks; in certain phases,
sores have a yellow or white center area; sore to touch; sensitivity to
spicy, salty foods |
Bacterial or viral
infection; trauma from denture in mouth; stress |
Use over-the-counter
remedies recommended by your dentist; coat lesions after meals; see dentist
to make sure there is no infection or for additional medication if pain
persists more than 48 hours; if you have dentures, the dentist will evaluate
weight-bearing points to be certain the problem does not exist there |
Avoid irritating
the area; avoid spicy, acidic foods |
| Dental
Abscess(swelling around tooth or cheek) |
| Pain, throbbing
in gum or tooth; swelling; sensitive bite; loose teeth; sensitivity to
heat |
Tooth decay; initial
eruption of tooth through the gums or fractured tooth; tooth nerve damage |
Rinse with salt
water solution; use mouthwash; avoid eating on or near tooth; see dentist
immediately; may require antibiotics or root canal treatment to prevent
spread of infection |
Regular dental
checkups; good oral hygiene; brushing, flossing, and rinsing |
| Discolored
teeth |
| Teeth have unsightly
and discolored appearance; single tooth begins to turn yellow or gray |
Surface stain from
certain foods, such as tea and coffee; internal staining from tooth nerve
damage or from rheumatic fever; stains from tetracycline |
Improve oral hygiene;
brush frequently; diminish coffee or tea intake; rinse with peroxide;
consult dentist to check nerve in darkened tooth; consider supervised
tooth bleaching/whitening |
Good oral hygiene;
avoid foods and liquids that can stain teeth, such as tea and coffee |
| Gum Disease |
| Gum pain; non-throbbing
ache; swelling; gum bleeding; blood in saliva when brushing; metallic
taste |
Food debris between
teeth; tartar beneath gums; infection; poor bite may worsen this condition |
Improve oral hygiene
by brushing often and flossing; rinse with mouthwash; consult dentist
to evaluate extent of condition; treatment by removing plaque and tartar
may require surgery and/or bite adjustment |
Good oral hygiene;
regular dental checkups and cleanings |
| Red Inflamed
Gums |
| Color of gums around
teeth progresses from pink to red with swelling or puffiness; dry mouth;
snoring |
Mouth breathing;
some medications, such as antihistamines, blood pressure medications,
and antidepressants, decrease salivary flow |
Use oral salivary
rinses and toothpastes for dry mouth; improve oral hygiene; consult dentist
because this condition can lead to tooth decay, advanced gum disease,
or other mouth infections |
Ask physician if
medications can be changed; consult dentist about obtaining oral rinses
and a snoreguard |
| Loose Teeth |
| Teeth move; spongy
feel to bite; teeth sensitive or even painful when chewing |
Gum disease; tooth
grinding; orthodontic appliances too tight; cyst, tumor, abscess, or trauma
to teeth |
See dentist as
soon as possible to determine cause; practice good oral hygiene; be aware
of tooth grinding or clenching and use appliance to prevent grinding |
Regular dental
visits; good oral hygiene; have your dentist evaluate your bite; use a
bite appliance if your dentist advises |
| Lumps Under
Jaw or Neck Muscle |
| Neck sore to touch
or movement; swelling in neck; sore throat; difficulty swallowing |
Cold/flu; tooth
abscess or infection; tumor |
Treat cold/flu
symptoms; limit neck movement; check temperature; take pain relievers
such as aspirin; see a dentist if symptoms persist to evaluate the extent
of swelling and infection |
Regular dental
checkups; patients should pay special attention to any growth or changes
in the head or neck |
| Toothache
(tooth pain on biting or chewing) |
| Tooth pain related
to temperature change or touch or from chewing or biting; dark brown spots
on teeth may indicate new decay |
Bacterial acids;
large filling broken out of tooth; tooth grinding |
Rinse mouth often
with vanilla extract to soothe discomfort; avoid chewing on tooth; see
a dentist as soon as possible to determine cause and further treatment |
Regular dental
visits for prevention; the sooner you are examined, the better the chance
of success |
| Tooth Sensitivity
to Temperature Change |
| Breathing outside
in cold air causes pain; waking up with toothache; pain when eating/drinking
cold things |
Inflamed gums;
gum recession that exposes root surfaces; tooth decay; teeth clenching
or grinding that has worn away tooth enamel |
Use desensitizing
toothpaste on a daily basis; use a soft bristle brush; avoid temperature
differences; consult dentist for appropriate treatment |
Good oral hygiene;
apply fluoride gel; use desensitizing toothpaste; avoid food temperature
differences; avoid hard bristle toothbrushes; become aware of and avoid
tooth grinding or squeezing teeth together; have fillings bonded to seal
areas of sensitivity; the dentist may recommend a biteguard if you grind
your teeth |
| Tooth Knocked Out |
| Bleeding; torn gum tissue in tooth space |
Trauma to jaw or face |
Soak tooth in saltwater solution, milk, or ice; if possible, replace tooth in socket, and hold firmly in place until you get to the dentist; see a dentist as soon as possible to stabilize/immobilize tooth with wire or appliance and receive additional advice, treatment |
Wear mouthguard when participating in sports |
