When it comes to oral health, many people think that all they have to do is brush their teeth twice a day and they are fine. However, that is not always the case. Brushing alone will not help keep dental problems at bay. Here are three things that can actually mean you have a much bigger dental problem going on. 

1. Bad breath.

Not many people realize that bad breath can mean more than just embarrassment for them. While there are some obvious causes for isolated cases of bad breath, such as eating garlic or drinking coffee, having chronic bad breath can signal dental problems like gingivitis and periodontitis. 

What makes it particularly important that you have a dentist check your teeth out if you have chronic bad breath is that periodontitis can lead to you losing your teeth as well as other major health problems, like heart attack and stroke. So, if you notice that you have bad breath regularly, be sure to get an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to make sure it's not caused by dental problems.

2. Tooth sensitivity.

Another issue that can signal a bigger dental problem on your hands is tooth sensitivity. Many will have tooth sensitivity while eating or drinking something very cold. However, if you experience sensitivity while eating or drinking other things, you need to have your teeth evaluated by your dentist. It could mean you have a cavity or have a cracked or chipped tooth—or it can even mean you have gum disease.  

If you have a cracked or chipped tooth, you need to have that taken care of by your dentist before it gets worse. The same thing goes for a cavity. And, if you have gum disease, catching it as early as possible can help prevent it from causing further problems—as long as you brush and floss your teeth regularly from that point on.

3. Mouth ulcers.

Mouth ulcers are generally not thought of to be associated with dental problems. However, if you keep getting mouth ulcers in the same spot, it could be caused by having a sharp or broken tooth scratching the inside of your mouth. You can see a dentist (such as one from Dentistry On Sherbrooke) and let them look to see if that could be the problem. If so, then the dentist can repair the tooth and see if that takes care of your mouth sore issue.