Toothaches can be extremely painful to experience and you will want to relieve the pain as quickly as possible, but does it mean you need to go to the dentist?
Why do my teeth hurt?
A toothache can be incredibly uncomfortable to live with and the pain is typically ongoing. As such you most likely don’t need to be told to contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing this emergency.
There are several different signs that indicate you should see a dentist right away, in addition to pain around the tooth. These include:
- Foul taste in your mouth or bad breath
- Fever
- Swelling around the tooth
- Facial swelling
- Bleeding in your mouth
Different factors that may be causing your tooth to feel painful include:
- Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
- Abscessed tooth
- Infected nerve
- Damaged dental work
- Infections in the mouth
- Tooth decay
- Teeth grinding
Should I Make a Dentist Appointment?
If you are suffering from tooth pain and the tooth is bleeding then you should use clean gauze to stop the tooth from bleeding. If you are missing the tooth then you should try to find the tooth and brush off and debris but do not use water to clean it.
If you are able to then you should place the tooth back in its socket and bite down firmly. If pushing the tooth back into the socket is not possible, add some milk to a lidded container and place the tooth inside. This may help preserve the tooth and make it more likely that your dentist will be able to replace it.
If you are experiencing swelling or pain, try taking over-the-counter painkillers (while carefully following the instructions on the bottle for the recommended dose) and applying an icepack to the area.
Regardless of the situation, you should contact your dentist to be examined and to have your dentist provide a recommended course of action. Note that most dental pain will not stop on its own, and attempting to diagnose or treat the issue yourself could lead to serious issues long-term.
Depending on the cause of the pain, your dentist may either tell you that you should visit their office immediately, or make an appointment to see you as soon as possible.
Bookmark our website or search “dentist near me” in your favourite search engine and we will likely pop up.
If you have experienced trauma to the tooth that has caused a fracture or breakage, or if the pain you are experiencing is unmanageable then you should contact your nearest dentist immediately to be seen for emergency dental treatment.
If your case is less severe, here are some other things you can do to manage your discomfort until your appointment time:
- Rinse your mouth using salt water
- Record your pain
- Keep your teeth clean
- If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth
Do you have a toothache that you feel may require a professional diagnosis and treatment?
A dentist can help perform a thorough examination and provide you with treatment recommendations.
