A Dentist in Lake Forest Can Diagnose Your Oral Health Problems

It is important to know when to visit a dentist in Lake Forest. This is because early detection and treatment can save you a great deal of time, money, and discomfort. Tooth decay, for example, starts out so small, you may barely notice it other than having some slight discomfort when eating. If you visit our office quickly, we can identify the decayed portion of your tooth and fix it prior to you experiencing an actual toothache. On the other hand, if you wait for several months, the decay is likely to spread and any discomfort you feel will intensify. The same is true for all oral health problems. The sooner you visit our office, the better, since this will prevent unnecessary discomfort and the need for invasive treatments.

Early Signs to Watch for Include:

• Bad breath. Your bad breath may not be caused by what you ate for dinner. If you brush your teeth on a regular basis, floss, and drink plenty of water, your breath should smell relatively fresh. If it continues to smell bad regardless of how frequently you brush, this could be a sign of halitosis, but it could also be a sign of dental decay. If you are experiencing decay or an infection, this is one of the first signs that manifest prior to you ever getting a toothache. By paying attention to how your breath smells, you could have the condition treated before experiencing discomfort.
• Bleeding gums. Your gums may bleed on occasion when brushing or flossing, but this should not happen on a regular basis. If it does, you could have gum disease, a common condition. Gum disease is treatable, and if you catch it early enough, you can have the condition treated without much effort. A deep dental cleaning, for example, can often remove the plaque or tartar causing the condition. However, if you wait until your gum disease has progressed, you could have a far more serious infection on your hands and need a more invasive solution, like a gum graft procedure.
• Irritation when eating. If you bite down and experience sudden discomfort, you could have tooth sensitivity brought on by erosion or you could have the early warning signs of tooth decay. Visiting our office means that as a dentist in Lake Forest, we can diagnose the problem and treat it before you develop a full-blown toothache.

Other Conditions We Treat as a Dentist in Lake Forest

We can diagnose and treat all oral health conditions. If there is something we recognize that requires the assistance of a specialist, we can make recommendations for who you should visit after helping you as much as we can. Other conditions we treat are:

• Candidiasis. When you take antibiotics or other medications, there is always a risk of developing a fungal (yeast) infection. A white film that does not brush off will develop on your tongue. When it does, call our office for an examination so we can recommend how to treat your infection.
• Dental abscess. An infection of your dental root, an abscess can be incredibly painful and requires immediate treatment before it spreads.

Regardless of what your symptoms are, call a dentist in Lake Forest for an exam today.