While human teeth are durable, they can be vulnerable. Because of this, you need to recognize the common symptoms of infections so you can protect your oral health proactively. Once you know what symptoms to watch for, you can see a family dentist in Aurora for immediate treatment before the issue progresses. With this strategy, you can reduce your risks of experiencing oral health and overall health problems. The following are common oral infections you need to watch out for:

Dental Cavities

Dental cavities or caries are teeth holes. They are often a result of tooth decay. When not treated right away, cavities will eat away at your teeth, causing pain, discoloration, and tooth loss. Thankfully, your dentist has many treatment approaches for dental cavities. These include dental fillings, dental crowns, and root canal therapy.

Gingivitis

Although your teeth are what complete your smile, your gums offer vital support for the roots of your teeth. However, poor oral hygiene and other factors can lead to gingivitis, a type of gum tissue infection. This is the initial stage of gum disease and includes symptoms such as minor bleeding, inflammation, and redness. To avoid gingivitis, you have to brush and floss your teeth regularly every day. If you are experiencing signs of gingivitis, visit your dentist for in-office dental cleaning. 

Periodontal Disease

When left untreated, gingivitis can advance into periodontal disease. At this stage, the infection has reached below your gum line and the deeper gum tissues, attacking the jawbone. Then, periodontal pockets start to form while your gum tissue shrinks away from your teeth, which increases your risk of tooth loss. 

Tooth Abscesses

Abscessed teeth have pockets of infection around them. Without appropriate treatment, these pockets of infection can spread to the neighboring teeth and other body parts, leading to more serious health issues. Symptoms of this infection include fever, pain, swelling, and a bad taste. If you are experiencing these symptoms, seek care right away. In general, antibiotics are prescribed to treat abscesses along with root canal treatments, as well as incision and drainage. Sometimes, extraction or surgery may need to be done to handle the tooth damage. 

Oral Thrush

This fungal infection causes the formation of white foamy lesions on your mouth’s inner surfaces. Also, it may bring pain and problems swallowing. Thrush occurs when there is too much yeast Candida albicans in the mouth. Such reaction is usually prompted by chemotherapy, radiation, and antibiotics. Antifungal medications are needed to treat oral thrush.