When it comes to dental health, prevention is always the best medicine. For most people this means brushing their teeth everyday and visiting the dentist 1 – 2 times a year for a checkup and cleaning.

While that is certainly a great way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, it is not a guarantee that a dental emergency will never crop up. Even for people who take great care of their teeth there are a 3 dental symptoms that should never be ignored.

The first symptom that should never be ignored is stabbing or throbbing pain in or around the teeth. Pain of this nature is a strong indicator that a cavity is present. This could even be true if visually the affected tooth looks fine. When the pain is intense it means that the nerves are being impacted which is a sign of a serious decay issue.

Another symptom that should not be overlooked is any pain that is occurring in a tooth that has previously been worked on. Unfortunately it is possible that a tooth can continue to decay even after a filling has been put in. This type of decay can be the most insidious because it can go on for months unnoticed. Because these teeth have already been compromised it is critical to get to a dentist as soon as the patient notices any pain.

The final symptom that a person should not ignore is sensitivity to heat or cold. Sensitivities in this regard are not normal and can be a first sign of beginning decay. It can also be a sign of less serious conditions like teeth grinding that the patient may not be aware of.

There are many other dental symptoms that could have made this list, but keeping an eye out for the three mentioned above is a great way to prevent serious dental conditions in the future.