Warning Signs of a Cavity | What Are Signs of a Cavity Forming

Think you could have a cavity? If you've got these common signs of a cavity, it probably means it's time to visit the dentist!

The signs of a cavity can be subtle at first. Unfortunately, early is also the best time to treat a cavity. The longer one waits, the worse the cavity can get.



Today we're going to outline some of the most common signs you might have a cavity. These warning signs should signal that it's time to get a dentist to look at your teeth, even if you're not sure how serious it might be yet. Read on for more.

1. Toothache

While it isn't fun to think about, cavities are caused by your teeth decaying. This decay occurs due to plaque essentially causing a chain reaction leading to the minerals on your enamel breaking down. 

As your teeth soften and otherwise break, even in tiny pockets, the much more sensitive parts of your teeth can become exposed. This is a very common cause of toothache.



Considering the above, toothache should be a strong warning sign you may have a cavity. It's also a sign you may need to brush more thoroughly to better remove plaque from your teeth.

2. Sensitive Teeth

The decay we describe above can affect your teeth in other ways too. As sensitive parts of your teeth are exposed, things that shouldn't bother your teeth can start to affect you.

The most common issues with sensitivity have to do with temperature and sugar. People with cavities may find they feel a sharp pain in affected teeth if they eat or drink things that are hot or cold. This same thing can happen with sugary foods. 



While this isn't always a sign of a cavity, it's enough of a warning sign that you need to get checked out. A cavity or not, your dentist can also help suggest toothpaste that may help with the pain as well.

Cavities and tooth decay go hand-in-hand. For this reason, the common signs of a cavity are identical to those of tooth decay, even if the two terms are somewhat different in meaning.

Tooth decay can stain your teeth with either brown or white spots. The more widespread the decay, the more staining you might notice. 

If there is discoloration on your teeth that can't be brushed off, that may be the sign of decay and either a cavity, or a future cavity, if the site is ignored.



As cavity warning signs go, paying attention to staining may allow you to get your cavity fixed before you have to deal with any pain. There are far less pleasant cavity symptoms than staining if the decay goes unchecked.

Perhaps one of the least pleasant signs of a cavity are pits or holes. This is, in essence, what a cavity is (hence the name). A cavity is a tiny hole or cracks in your tooth caused by tooth decay, that will worsen if untreated.

While there isn't much good about a hole in your tooth, this is one of the more direct cavity warning signs. Cavity signs can be hard to notice in the early stages but if you see a pit or hole, you know you need a dentist.

Sometimes these holes can be seen in a mirror, although it is somewhat rare unless the decay is significant. If you do notice any pits in your teeth, even very tiny ones, you should see a dentist. It means something is wrong, whether it is a cavity or not.



It's these same pits that dentists look for when you get your teeth x-rayed. The images help them see the damage that may be hard or impossible to see with the naked eye. They can also get a better idea of how deep the damage might be.

5. Aversion to Pressure

Cavities don't "like" to be touched. If anything rubs up against the damaged parts of your teeth, it can cause pain or discomfort.

While some might argue this qualifies as tooth sensitivity, it's worth discussing as its own separate symptom. Some people don't realize their teeth shouldn't hurt if touched. They will if struck but that is different.

It also needs to be noted you may risk exacerbating (worsening) your situation if you keep touching a cavity. Cavities can weaken your teeth and applying pressure in the wrong way could even crack or otherwise break them.



Touching a painful site on a tooth isn't going to fix it. Let a trained dentist take a look at the site to see the best way forward.

6. Bad Habits

One of the easiest to spot cavity signs for a dentist is your bad habits. If you don't brush right, plaque is going to do some serious damage over time.

Do you drink sugary drinks? Do you have poor brushing techniques? These are things a dentist can figure out with very little work but they matter.

Often a dentist will know pretty soon into a cleaning or checkup if you're at serious risk for a cavity. That's because bad habits often leave obvious warning signs, even if we don't realize it. 

The good news is that these things can be corrected with a little work. A better diet and better brushing can all but eliminate your risk of cavities.



Combined with regular checkups and the use of dental services when you do need them, your tooth health will rise dramatically. Remembering to see a dentist on the regular also means issues get caught early, so they won't be as bad (or expensive).

See Signs of a Cavity? We Can Help

Ignoring a cavity won't make it go away. In fact, it will get worse. So contact a dentist as soon as you notice an issue so you can stop worrying and start smiling. 



If you notice any of these signs of a cavity, request an appointment with us at the Maryland Center for Complete Dentistry. We can help you tackle your cavity (and any other dental issues you may have).