Have a toothache? You will want to schedule a dentist appointment as soon as possible, before it gets worse, such as an infection! If you’re nervous about seeing a dentist for your toothache, Snow Family Dentistry can help! Our expert doctors will treat your toothache at the source and guide you through the entire process!
What is a Toothache?
A toothache is a sensation of pain surrounding a particular tooth. The type of pain can vary in severity, and can also involve sensitivity to temperature, touch, or even the consumption of sugar.
Toothaches can be caused by various dental issues, which is why you need to consult a dentist when you first experience one.
Toothache Symptoms
The following symptoms may be an indication of a larger dental problem:
Sharp Pain
If you consistently feel a sharp pain in one of your teeth, you may have a larger dental issue. Schedule an appointment so a dentist can determine the source of your pain.
Tooth Pain with Pressure
If you only feel pain when you bite down or apply pressure, you may have a dental cavity, a misaligned bite or a filling that wasn’t properly filed down.
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.
Breath Odor
If you notice your mouth constantly tastes bad or you have consistent bad 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 is swollen, you may have a serious infection. You should seek treatment immediately to stop the infection from spreading to other parts of the body, specifically the brain.
Causes of a Toothache
Cavities
A cavity can cause sharp pain, pressure and sensitivity. Cavities happen when plaque and tartar build up over time. Bacteria then consumes this build-up and produces an acid that wears your tooth enamel away, creating a hole or cavity. If you think you have a cavity, schedule an appointment with your dentist, so they can remove the decay and replace it with a filling.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth don’t always erupt above the surface of your gums, and can lie below the surface of your gums for a long period of time. However, if they do erupt, they can impact other teeth. This type of pressure can cause pain in your teeth and crowding.
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, or root, of your tooth, which is 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.
Abscessed Tooth
An infected or abscessed tooth can occur when any one of the above causes are left untreated. If left untreated, cavities, gum disease, or fractured teeth can become infected, causing your teeth to rot. Signs of an abscessed tooth can include extreme pain, bad taste, foul odor and even pus. This is a serious infection that should be treated immediately. 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 occurs before conditions worsen.
If you have a toothache, please don’t wait. Here at Snow Family Dentistry, we will do a thorough examination of your mouth to understand the source of your pain. Don’t wait until it’s too late, call (480) 982-7289 to schedule an appointment with us today!
