Myth Busting: No pain, no problem?
A lot of dental problems develop silently, especially in the early stages. Pain usually starts when the problem is left untreated.
Tooth Decay:
Early cavities start as small areas of enamel demineralization in the tooth's outer layer (enamel). Progression can be stopped if caught early and monitored routinely at check ups.
To prevent progression, we advise restricting sugar to mealtimes only, limiting sugar exposure to a maximum of 4 times a day (this includes your meals).
Every time you eat or drink something containing sugar, your mouth's pH level drops. If the pH level drops below 5.5 this is the threshold for enamel demineralisation. Frequent occurrences of this can cause the enamel to lose strength and become more susceptible to decay.
We advise drinking and eating only sugar-free items between meals and having sugary snacks with or immediately after a meal.
Sugar-free drinks between meals:
Water
Examples of drinks to avoid between meals:
Fruit juices
Milkshakes
Tea & Coffee with sugar
Oat, almond & soy milk
Sugar-free snacks between meals:
Cheese
Vegetables
Nuts & Seeds
Examples of foods to avoid between meals:
Dried fruit
Chocolate
Sweets
Granola bars
So damage can happen without causing discomfort. Pain often starts once the decay reaches the deeper layers of the tooth, where the nerve is located.
Gum Disease:
The same is true for gum disease! Early gum disease (gingivitis) may cause mild bleeding or redness, but often no pain. If left untreated, it can progress into periodontitis where plaque hardens into tartar and the toxins begin to attack the supporting structures of the teeth. It can slowly start to damage the bone supporting the teeth causing bone loss, infections & mobile teeth.
Other dental issues can go unnoticed including:
Small cracks
Worn enamel from grinding
Infections
Bone loss around teeth
Impacted teeth
This is why regular check-ups matter. Dentists can spot early warning signs using exams and X-rays long before you feel pain, making treatment easier, less invasive, and often less expensive.
Myth busted:
No pain DOES NOT mean no problem!
If you’re looking for a dentist near you in Essex, our Chelmsford dentists at Dental Smiles Chelmsford can help. Contact us on info@dentalsmileschelmsford.co.uk or 01245 251198