Category: Oral Health

Dental Cavity Pain or Tooth Decay? When to Visit a Palos Park Dentist Before It Becomes a Root Canal

Cavity Pain Vs. Tooth Decay: Understanding the Difference

Cavity pain turns into a root canal when the tooth decay has spread deep enough to reach your tooth’s nerve, causing sharp, throbbing pain. 

How do you know it’s cavity pain vs when it’s not? 

Cavity pain is quick and goes away immediately, while tooth decay lingers. Not only is it noticeably more painful, but it can even wake you up in the middle of the night. 

If this sounds like where you’re at right now, this dental health guide is for you. 

At Sheehan Dental, our Palos Park family dental clinic, we see this all the time: someone ignores “little” cavity pain, hoping it will fade, and then one day the pain is so bad that a root canal is the only way to save the tooth. 

The good news? If you come in early for a dental checkup, a root canal may be avoided. read more

Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Brush? (And When to See a Dentist)

Sometimes, brushing too hard can cause your gums to bleed, but we’ve seen many cases related to gum disease, vitamin deficiencies, or other oral health issues.

At Sheehan Dental in Palos Park, we’ve had patients come in with all sorts of factors, so it’s never just down to one cause. We provide our dental patients with comprehensive oral health care evaluations & expert treatment to the Palos Park Community and Surrounding areas. 

The good news: Bleeding gums can often be treated and prevented before they become something serious.

Why Your Gums Bleed (Common Causes)

If this is the first time you’re seeing your gums bleed, don’t panic. And if it’s happened several times, don’t be quick to assume you have gum disease either. 

Bleeding gums cause varies, and it’s better to understand what the possibilities could be: 

Gingivitis (Early Gum Disease)

Plaque hardens into tartar at your gumline, causing irritation.  read more