No matter the body part, if you’re experiencing constant pain, it affects your productivity and mood for days. Tooth pain is one of the worst. They leave you feeling hurt, annoyed, and unable to do anything. You might have experienced mild to moderate sensitivity or occasional twinges that come and go. They are usually associated with hot or cold drinks. But consistent sensitivity, sharp and throbbing pain should never be ignored. If you don’t get medical attention, it can lead to infection, tooth loss, or even more complicated and expensive treatments later.
If you’re writhing in pain, just search, dentist near me and book an appointment. Don’t wait for the pain to go away because tooth pain never disappears on its own. Therefore, you must know what can cause toothaches and how you can manage them before seeing a dentist.
Common Causes of Severe Tooth Pain
There can be a couple of causes for toothache. Some might be due to dental issues, while others can be due to other issues, as follows:
- Gum disease can cause soreness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums
- Tooth decay and cavities that can expose the nerves, causing sharp pain
- Cracked teeth expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth.
- Dental abscess is a serious infection that causes throbbing pain and swelling.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth puts too much pressure on them, which leads to soreness
- Sinus infections can cause sinus pressure that sometimes feels like tooth pain.
You can’t identify what is causing your toothache unless you have studied dentistry yourself. But even then, it’s very important to get those teeth checked to prevent any exacerbations.
How to Manage Pain Before You See a Dentist
Most dentists make you book an appointment where you have to wait for your turn. That wait can feel like forever if your toothache is killing you. Although you can’t help but wait, there are ways that help ease the discomfort until the doctor sees you.
To begin with, you can take the OTC pain relievers that work well for dental aches, like ibuprofen or paracetamol. Pair it up with a cold compress on your cheek if you have swelling. Besides that, just take some warm water with salt, which also cleans and soothes the irritated area. If your appointment is the next day, just sleep with your head slightly elevated so the blood won’t rush to the painful tooth.
These tricks are not a cure, but a temporary management of pain to make your daily routine more manageable. You must see a doctor to know the root cause and what treatment plan you need.
When Does Tooth Pain Indicate an Emergency
Every toothache doesn’t mean you may need a dental procedure, but you must recognize the signs when tooth pain can indicate an emergency. Don’t wait and rely on luck if:
- Your face or jaw is swollen.
- You have a fever along with tooth pain
- There’s pus or a foul taste in your mouth
- You have severe pain after an injury
- You can’t open your mouth or swallow normally.
All these symptoms point towards a risk of infection, which calls for urgent medical attention.
How Does a Dentist Treat Severe Tooth Pain
Severe tooth pains usually have a couple of common reasons that include cavities, gum disease, infection, irreparable damage, fractures, or bruxism. Dentists usually suggest:
- Fillings or crowns for cavities or fractures.
- Root canal therapy for infection of the inner layers
- A deep cleaning for any gum disease
- Extraction if your tooth is damaged beyond repair.
- Nightguards to prevent teeth grinding.
Dentists don’t simply manage the pain but suggest the best treatment plan to get rid of the pain for good and prevent any future problems. So, trust their expertise and go with what they recommend.
How To Prevent Future Pains
Once you have resolved the issue, it is important to take proper care of your teeth to prevent any similar situations in the future. To do that, you must take care of your oral hygiene. It is not only important for your tooth health, but also for your gut and overall health.
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Use floss daily to keep the space between teeth clean.
- Limit your sugary drinks and snacks, especially at night.
- Book at least 2 appointments with your dentist per year.
- Manage your tooth grinding habit before it damages your teeth for good.
You can easily adapt these habits into your routine, and these simple habits can prevent any potential tooth issues.
Final Thoughts
Believe me, toothaches are not fun. You should never brush them off without proper dental care. Your grandma’s recipes and quick fixes at home can only help you manage the pain at best, but can’t treat it. Make sure to get in touch with your dentist if your tooth pain seems out of the ordinary. Your teeth’s health is very important to be shrugged off casually.
