Quick & Easy Self Dental Exam to Check for Cavities

Along with your regular semi- annual dental check ups, you should be looking for the following in your mouth every day at home:

Cavities are quite literally a “cavity” or “hole” in your tooth. They can progress in stages, but not always. Some of the first signs of trouble are white spots on the teeth, which you’ll commonly find along the gum line, which dental plaque lives. These white spots are known as “demineralized" which means the enamel is weaker and can more easily develop a cavity vs. healthy enamel. Other signs of cavities are black and brown spots, shadows under fillings or a hole in the tooth.

Any of the signs below mean it’s time to see your dentist as soon as possible! And please remember that not all cavities cause pain! It’s best to identify and fix decay before they get bigger, cause pain and lead to more costly procedures.

Source: Ismail AI, Pitts NB, Tellez M. The International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS™) An Example of a Caries Management Pathway. BMC Oral Health. 2015;15(Suppl 1):S9.