If you don't go to the dentist, the acids can continue to make their way through the enamel, and the inside parts of your tooth can begin to decay. If you've ever had a toothache or heard an adult complain about one, it may have been because there was a cavity that reached all the way inside a tooth, where the nerve endings are. Ouch!

Your dentist will carefully examine your teeth and may take X- Rays . If your dentist discovers a cavity, he or she can repair it for you by first removing the rotted part of your tooth with a special drill. The dentist then fills the hole in your tooth with a special material. It's called a filling.

Does it hurt? Sometimes it does, but your dentist can give you an anesthetic . That's a kind of medicine that will numb the area around the problem tooth while you're getting your new filling.

Signs and Symptoms

Although the symptoms of periodontal disease often are subtle, the condition is not entirely without warning signs. Certain symptoms may point to some form of the disease. They include:

• Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing.
• Red, swollen or tender gums.
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
• Receding gums.
• Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums.
• Loose or shifting teeth.
• Changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures.