Most of us have experienced toothaches or tooth pain at one point in their life.
Often these toothaches are minor or temporary. Occasionally a toothache requires urgent care. So how do you know the difference between minor and a required trip to the dentist once a toothache starts?
There are a few scenarios which can indicate a more serious toothache. If your toothache fades before 48 hours, you shouldn’t need to visit your dentist. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, give us a call and come see us right away:
The pain is extreme and throbbing
If your toothache throbs in time with your heartbeat and is extremely painful, you want to visit a dentist right away. It is especially important to see us right away if you notice any swelling in your cheek or face, or you begin to run a fever. This type of pain could indicate an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth has the potential to rupture and cause the infection to quickly travel throughout your body, making you extremely ill.
The pain is severe and sharp
If you have a sudden onset of sharp pain, which is severe and lasts longer than 48 hours, you should come see us right away. This type of toothache may indicate that the root of your tooth is infected.
You have a chipped or broken tooth
Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth are painful and require immediate attention from a dentist. You don’t want to delay on a chipped or broken tooth as a delay could result in infection of the tooth, which can quickly spread to the rest of your body. Depending on the extent of the injury to the tooth, it may require a replacement or a crown. It may also be an easier fix – as long as you come to see us right away!
You experience pain only when eating or to hot/cold temperatures
If you experience pain when biting down/chewing your food, or only when your tooth is exposed to hot/cold temperatures there a number of issues you may have. First, it could be an abscessed tooth or sever tooth decay. Second, it may be a deep cavity you didn’t realise you had. Third, it could mean signs of gum recession.
Thank you for this educational blog post! Teeth are the only part of the human body that is used for both chewing and talking. This is because they are essential to the proper functioning of the mouth. A toothache can be a sign of something more serious, so it should never be ignored.
A toothache is any type of pain felt in the teeth or jaw, usually caused by tooth decay, tooth infection or dry sockets. Toothaches could be due to an injury to the teeth or just pressure on them from other teeth or even gum tissue. Some people may also get a toothache because they suffer from bruxism (grinding their teeth). Teeth may feel sensitive when touched with cold water after eating, ice cream, energy drinks and chocolate as well as with caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea.