The dentist can help you care for your oral health. However, it's easy to skip dental appointments, especially routine cleanings/exams. If you haven't been to the dentist in a while, here are three times you should visit the dentist.

1. You Have Tooth Pain

If you have tooth pain, there may be several reasons, including:

• Tooth decay/cavities
• Tooth infection
• Tooth sensitivity

If you have tooth decay, the dentist must remove the decayed tissue. If left untreated, the decay could spread to more tooth tissue or reach the tooth pulp. When decay reaches the pulp, you develop an infection, which requires root canal treatment or extraction. If left untreated, the infection can cause severe pain, destroy the tooth, and/or spread to other parts of the body.

If you have tooth sensitivity, the dentist may suggest treatments to help strengthen enamel, such as fluoride. In severe cases, patients may fully lose enamel. In this case, dental bonding, veneers, or crowns can help.

2. Your Gums Bleed

If your gums bleed, you may have gum disease. Other signs of gum disease include:

• Tender/sore gums
• Bright red gums
• Puffy gums
• Bad breath from the gums
• Pus from the gums

Gum disease usually develops from extreme irritation from bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Smoking can drastically increase your risk, and older patients are at a higher risk of developing gum disease.

It's important to treat gum disease early so that it doesn't advance and cause irreversible symptoms like gum tissue loss, large pockets, and jawbone loss. Surgical intervention can restore the gums and jawbone, but the tissue will not regrow on its own.

3. You Experienced Trauma

If your mouth has experienced trauma from an accident, high-impact sport, etc. you may have damaged the tooth's pulp. This can lead to the death of the pulp, which increases the risk of developing a tooth infection. Your dentist can look for problems with the pulp and other issues, such as minor chips and cracks.

Depending on the severity of the trauma, your dentist may recommend a preventative root canal treatment to avoid an infection. If the tooth was cracked or chipped, the dentist may be able to restore it and protect it with a dental crown.

Your teeth are important for many reasons, so take care of them. Regular dental visits and exams can help, but anytime you have pain or concerns, schedule an appointment with your dentist. For more information, contact a dentist's office today.