You May Need an Emergency Dentist if These Toothache Symptoms Persist
A toothache can sometimes be a slight moment of pain, or nothing you want to leave untreated. Knowing the difference can save you a trip to your emergency dentist. At home remedies can provide minor toothache relief, but it’s sometimes best to use a dentist near me search to find your closest emergency dentist. Understanding your toothache symptoms is the surest way of getting toothache relief that acts as a cure, rather than a bandaid. Your emergency dentist will help diagnose what the underlying cause of your toothache is, and what relief they’ll be able to provide you. It could be as simple as a quick filling! Whatever the reason, below are some symptoms you should watch for if you have a toothache.
What is a Toothache?
A toothache involves a sensation of pain around a particular tooth. The type of pain can vary in severity, whether the tooth is having a sharp pain or more of an achy feel. A toothache can also involve your tooth feeling sensitivity to temperature, touch, or even the consumption of sugar. The reasons why your toothache hurts so much could be caused by various dental issues. A small toothache isn’t always something to be worried about, especially when it’s related to a sinus infection or other diseases. However, if you feel you’re experiencing a toothache that persists you should start looking for an emergency dentist by using a dentist near me search. This can provide you with a list of emergency dentists in your area that are able to provide you with toothache relief the moment you need it.
Toothache Symptoms
If you notice these symptoms, your toothache can be an indication of a larger dental problem. If you’re not sure, it’s best to contact your emergency dentist for a quick exam to make sure everything is healthy with your teeth and gums.
Sharp Pain
If you have a toothache that has a sharp pain that’s only increased in severity from the time you’ve noticed it, it can be an indication of a dental issue. Other types of pain include a dull ache or a constant pain in a tooth or teeth.
Tooth pain with pressure
If you are noticing you only feel pain in a tooth when you bite down or apply pressure to the tooth it can be an indication of a few things, like a dental cavity or a misaligned bite. Some patients might even have a filling that wasn’t properly shaved down that can be causing this type of pain.
Swelling or bleeding gums
If you notice your gums seem a bit swollen, or if they bleed when you brush and floss your teeth you should visit your dentist as this is generally a sign of infection or gum disease. Some bleeding can happen when you haven’t brushed or flossed in some time, but if this is recurring you should have an emergency exam with your dentist.
Bad taste in mouth
If you notice your mouth constantly tastes bad or exudes a foul odor beyond morning breath, you should have a dentist take a look. If a tooth is decayed or infected it can emit toxins that smell and taste unpleasant.
Swollen jaw
If you notice the area around your jaw and neck have begun to swell, this can be a serious sign of infection. You should seek treatment to make sure that if it is an infection, it can be stopped before spreading to other parts of the body – notably the brain.
Causes of a Toothache
Cavities
Cavities or dental caries, are some of the most common causes behind a toothache. When you feel sharp pain, pain from pressure, or even sensitivity to temperature or sugar. Cavities happen when plaque and tartar are left on your tooth enamel. Bacteria consume this and produce an acid that wears away at your tooth enamel, creating a hole or cavity. You’ll want to see your dentist if you think you might have a cavity so they can remove the decay and replace it with a filling before the decay becomes more severe.
Wisdom Teeth
Surprisingly, wisdom teeth might be the culprits of your toothache. These teeth don’t always come in and can lie below the surface of your gums. However, they can push upwards or forward, impacting other teeth. This type of pressure can cause pain in your teeth and crowding. Your dentist may recommend you visit an oral surgeon to have them extracted.
Chipped Tooth
A chipped or fractured tooth can also cause toothache symptoms to appear. When a tooth is chipped or fractured, it can expose the pulp of your tooth which are extremely sensitive. Depending on how severe the fracture is, your dentist may need to use a bonding, crown, or veneer to remedy the broken tooth.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, otherwise known as periodontitis, is a discrete disease. It can advance through various stages, leaving patients with various symptoms. If you notice your gums are a bit swollen, or bleed often during brushing and flossing you might be in the earliest stage of gum disease – gingivitis. You’ll want to see your dentist for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning, as well as keep up a strict regimen for your routine brushing and flossing at home.
If your gum disease has advanced, the teeth and gums are irreparable. However, you’ll want to seek treatment for advanced periodontitis to keep infection from spreading and to prevent the loss of your teeth. With advanced periodontitis you might start to notice your teeth loosen or you have “pockets” that have formed between your tooth and gum line.
Abscessed Tooth
An infected or abscessed tooth can happen when a variety of the above causes are left untreated. At this point, the cavity, gum disease, or exposed tooth have become infected, leaving your tooth to rot. Symptoms listed before such as extreme pain, bad taste, foul odor, and even pus can be a sign of an abscessed tooth. This is a serious sign of infection that should be treated by an emergency dentist. Typically, the tooth will need to be removed if the decay can not be treated. Infection like this can spread to the rest of the body, making it imperative treatment is sought out before conditions worsen.
Difference between emergency dentist and general dentist
There is a difference between an emergency dentist and general dentist other than a sense of urgency needed on behalf of the patient. With an emergency dentist, they will more than likely have hours that suit your time frame. After all, accidents don’t just happen between the hours of 9-5. Your emergency dentist should offer flexible hours so that you can get quick toothache relief the moment you realize it’s an issue. At an emergency dental checkup, your exam won’t be as extensive as it is with your general dentist. Because you’re going in for a specific problem, your dentist will tend to focus just on the issue at hand. You can receive a comprehensive dental checkup with a general dentist, typically during your teeth cleanings.
Preventing a Toothache
There are several things you can do at home to help prevent a toothache. The first is with proper oral care, such as brushing and flossing on a regular basis. You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. You should follow by flossing your teeth at least once a day. Doing so more often, especially at a meal will help keep your smile free of plaque and bacteria.
Visiting your dentist for a routine oral exam and teeth cleaning at least every 6 months are a great way of maintaining oral health and lowering your risk for developing the causes behind a toothache. During this time, your general dentist is able to scrape any tartar that has built up and determine if you’re at risk for developing gum disease. Preventative care can not only save you a painful experience later on, but can help reduce the chance of developing a larger (more costly) issue in the future.
Finding an Emergency Dentist Near You
If you think your toothache is something bigger than you initially thought, you should consider visiting an emergency dentist. From there, your dentist can determine what is causing your symptoms and provide you with relief that lasts. While it might be nerve wracking, seeing your emergency dentist can prevent major dental issues down the road, especially when it comes to an issue like an abscessed tooth. You can make an appointment with your nearest Castle Dental location by visiting us online, or calling us at [phone]. With flexible hours and various payment plan options, your toothache relief is just a visit away.