Nobody wants to go the dentist and find out they have a cavity. But spotting one as soon as possible is much better than letting it go by unnoticed and untreated. When cavities get worse, they can cause a toothache, result in an infection, and even get so severe that they lead to tooth loss.

When a cavity is in its earliest stages, you might not notice anything unusual at all. As the decay worsens, a few common signs start to pop up. If you notice any of the following things, you should make an appointment with a dentist so they can take a look.

Tooth Pain

A toothache is one of most prevalent signs that there is a cavity. This could range from a dull ache to a throbbing pain if it’s an abscessed tooth.

Bad Breath

Bacteria and bad breath go hand in hand. This is not to say that all cases of bad breath (also called halitosis) are due to cavities, but infection can sometimes be the culprit behind a foul mouth odor.

Tooth Sensitivity

When decay wears away at the outer surface of enamel and reaches the inner part of a tooth, it leaves those nerves vulnerable. Eating or drinking something particularly hot or cold could irritate the nerves, causing you to feel tooth sensitivity.

Even eating sweets could cause this reaction. You may also experience a slight pain when biting down or putting pressure on that tooth.

Discoloration

Sometimes a cavity leaves its mark as a brown or black stain, or even as a general darkening of a tooth. You may also see white, chalky spots on your tooth. Essentially, if you notice any unusual discoloration then it’s best to get in touch with a dentist.

Hole in Tooth

At the end of the day, a cavity is a small hole left by bacteria eating away at your enamel. Not all cavities are immediately visible to the eye, but if you see a small hole or pit, then most likely this is a cavity.

It’s very easy for the signs of a cavity to go unnoticed as we all go about our daily routine. At Middletown Commons Family Dental, we have a tool called a DIAGNOdent® which is designed to detect cavities in their earliest stages, before you may have seen or felt anything different. The sooner we catch cavities and can treat them, the better it is for your oral health!