Do You Turn to Your Dentist When You Have Mouth Pain?

Americans faced with oral pain are more likely to take pain medication than to speak with a dentist about the problem. This was found recently through a survey sponsored by Procter & Gamble and Oral Healthcare Can't Wait and commissioned by Oral Health America for their third annual Fall for Smiles Campaign. In many cases, people avoid visiting the dentist because of a lack of money.

Unfortunately, dental care is often neglected by people in difficult financial situations. Many people forget about the dentist altogether as long as they aren't faced with severe pain or obviously dangerous dental problems. While area residents might not prioritize visiting a dentist, this can lead to serious problems over time. Tooth decay can cause social problems due to unattractive appearance, repel others due to bad breath and possibly lead to heart problems or stroke long-term.

Mouth pain could also be a sign of something else: Oral cancer. Although rare, the problem could develop during periods of dental neglect when a dentist would have easily spotted the problem. Whereas early detection through oral cancer screening could result in early, effective surgery or other treatment, a delay could result in more devastating effects on health. For some patients, this could mean the spread of oral cancer to other parts of the body and result in death.

By taking time to visit your dentist on a regular basis, patients can improve their chances of spotting the signs of oral cancer earlier and having a successful recovery if problems are found. Dental care becomes especially important when oral pain occurs. Maintaining an attractive appearance is a good reason to care for one's teeth, but timely checkups and regular oral cancer screenings can also have bigger benefits by increasing chances of living healthfully for longer.

Have you ever had dental pain? Leave us your comments below or feel free to call our South Charlotte dentist office with questions or concerns at 704-543-1102.