Recognizing the Warning Signs

Think about it; your mouth is one of the most used parts of the body. Breathing, speaking, eating, smiling, frowning, singing, sighing—it all happens at there. Preventive steps such as brushing, flossing, and diet management are the best way to keep your teeth, gums, and tongue healthy and free of pain or problems. However, when things go wrong, chances are you won’t be able to ignore it, given all the activity that goes on in the mouth. Consult your dentist or doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A mouth sore that bleeds or fails to heal promptly
• Bleeding while brushing or flossing
• Spontaneous bleeding from the gums
• A change in the color of the skin inside the cheeks
• A lump, scaly patch, white spot, or any other change in the gums or cheeks
• Pain or tenderness in the mouth, jaw, or lips
• Numbness of the mouth or lips
• Difficulty speaking, chewing, swallowing, opening the mouth, or moving the tongue
• Redness, swelling, or tenderness of the gums
• Pus around the gums
• Loose teeth
• A change in the way teeth fit together when biting or a change in the way dentures fit