Sometimes going to your dentist can offer up a nasty surprise, particularly if you didn’t realise just how many problems you had. Your dentist doesn’t set out to shock you or cause any panic, but if you fail to pick up the signs, take care of your teeth, and get a regular check-up, there’s every possibility these shocks will take place more often than not.

If you’d like to avoid unhappy trips to the dentist in the future, and would rather glowing compliments from them instead, then pay attention to the signs of cavities and decay. We’ve included them below.

How Dentists Detect Decay

Without telling your dentist too much, they can identify signs of decay with relative ease. While they will ask you about any pain or sensitivity, they can pick up a lot of information by examining your mouth, using instruments to probe your teeth, and taking x-rays. Typically, these can show the extent of decay as well as whether you’ve got any in the first place.

Finally, from your dentist’s inspection, they will be able to tell whether you have root decay or fissure, pit, or smooth surface cavities.

How You Detect Decay

By looking at your teeth, it can be challenging to see whether there’s a problem. After all, on the surface, they often look okay. However, there are signs to be on the lookout for that can more than confirm your suspicions of having a cavity. Firstly, toothache and sensitivity are two alarm bells that tell you there are problems. When you feel random, spontaneous pain, it can mean you have decay or a cavity.

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