Are you experiencing a Toothache? Most often, tooth pain is a sign that there’s something wrong with your tooth or gums. A bad toothache can be very irritating and often requires an emergency visit to the dentist. In some cases, you can easily avoid this. Most of the time, we are aware that something is not quite right, but we still choose to ignore it in the hope that it will go away on its own. It is essential to pay attention to the signs and symptoms you may be experiencing before your toothache becomes unbearable.
What does a toothache feel like?
Your tooth pain can vary greatly by the degree (mild to severe) and type of pain you’re experiencing. It can be localized or widespread. It can be a dull ache, throbbing, or sharp pain. You can feel a constant pain or in some cases, it can only be felt when pressure is applied to the tooth.
You may also feel:
- Throbbing pain or swelling in or around your tooth or gum. If not treated on time, the swelling can even spread on the whole face and it should never be ignored.
- Headache or fever can also be a sign that there is a dental issue.
- Foul taste coming from drainage around an infected tooth.
- Tenderness or sharp pain when you touch your tooth or bite down.
- Sensitivity in your tooth in response to hot or cold foods and drinks.
- Burning or shock-like pain, which is uncommon.
What are the causes of A Toothache?
There are many possible causes that can give you a severe toothache. Some of the common causes are below:
- Dental Cavities
- Tooth abscess/infection
- A fractured or cracked tooth
- Damaged or failing filling
- Temperature sensitivity
- Gum disease
- Improper brushing technique
- Orthodontic treatment (braces)
- Erupting or impacted wisdom teeth
- Grinding/clenching
- Sinus Infection
What is the treatment for a toothache?
Treatment for your toothache depends on the reason that caused it in the first place. You should never delay in booking an assessment exam for your toothache. Your oral health is connected to the overall health of your body so you should never delay your dental exams. When you see the dentist, they will do a complete physical exam and x-rays if needed. The dental team might also need to review your medical history and ask you some details about the pain. After determining the cause of the pain, the dental team will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment for you.
Some possible treatment recommendations may include:
- Restoration of the tooth with white fillings.
- Endodontic Treatment with Root Canal Therapy to save your tooth from extraction.
- Dental Crown if more than half of the original tooth structure is gone.
- Sensitivity reducing agents such as fluoride treatment or sensitivity reducing toothpaste.
- Scaling to save your gums from infection.
- Tooth extraction to remove an infected tooth if there is a risk of infection spreading to the rest of your body.
- Prescription medication for dental pain relief.
Prevention of Toothaches
You should always follow a good oral hygiene routine as it can reduce the chances of dental decay and gum disease. Brushing your teeth two times every day and flossing is a must. Consumption of foods and beverages that are acidic or high in nature should be reduced. Seeing a dentist on a regular basis is also very important as routine dental exams can often reveal issues even before they become symptomatic. Multiple treatment options may be available to you while the problem is still not an emergency. This gives you more time to consider and evaluate the best treatment for you without making a rash decision solely based on the discomfort you may be experiencing.
