Toothaches suck

A toothache comes on fast and out of nowhere. Toothache causes range from something stuck in your gum to a cracked tooth to a building abscess. If your cannot control your toothache with Tylenol or Motrin, it lasts more than a few days or causes swelling, foul odors, or worse – schedule an emergency dental appointment immediately.

What is a toothache, and why is it so painful?

A toothache is a pain or tenderness in, on, or around a tooth. We classify toothaches as either mild (treatable at home) or severe (potential emergency). The pain and symptoms will not resolve without a dentist’s intervention if you suffer from a severe toothache. Your tooth hurts because you’ve irritated nerves, tissues, and blood vessels in your mouth – which is extremely sensitive in the first place. Our primary concern with a toothache is an abscess forming.

What causes toothache?

Toothaches are most commonly caused by:

• Untreated tooth decay (you should make an appointment for a general dentistry visit in Frisco!)
• A dental abscess (bacterial infection inside the pulp of your tooth)
• A cracked tooth or fracture
• Gingivitis or periodontal disease
• Rogue food or foreign objects
• Adult or wisdom teeth erupting through the gum surface

Because various issues can cause toothaches, we always complete a full exam to find its source. During the exam, we’ll take x-rays to see what may be occurring beneath your tooth enamel. We always want to preserve your natural tooth. In some cases, your tooth may not be treatable due to severe infection or damage. If this occurs, extraction is usually the best course of action to relieve your toothache and protect your health, as it stops an infection from spreading in your body.

Except for wisdom teeth, you should replace a missing tooth.

What are the symptoms of a toothache?

• Pain is the main symptom. The pain can be dull, sharp, inconsistent, or ever-present.
• Facial swelling
• Headache
• Fever
• Unusual or foul taste in your mouth

Home remedies for a toothache

Unfortunately, if your toothache is consistent or progresses with swelling or foul taste – there isn’t a home remedy that can alleviate the pain. Be sure to call our office for an emergency appointment, but you can seek temporary relief with the following:

• Saltwater rinse
• Hydrogen peroxide rinse
• Cold compress
• OTC pain medication

What happens when I go to the dentist’s office for my toothache?

Call our office if your toothache worsens or you’ve noticed new symptoms.

Once you arrive, our Frisco team will review what has you concerned about and what symptoms you’ve experienced. Be prepared to answer:

• Where is the pain coming from?
• When did your symptoms start?
• How painful on a scale of 1-10 is your pain?
• What makes the pain worse, and what gives you relief?

During our exam, we check your mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, tongue, throat, sinuses, ears, nose, and neck.

How will the dentist treat my toothache?

Treatment by our team depends on what is causing your toothache.

• If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the hole or take the tooth out, if necessary.
• You may need a root canal if the cause of the toothache is an infection of the tooth’s nerve.
• An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is a fever or swelling of the jaw. A small piece of food can get stuck under the gums, causing an infection. In this instance, a deep cleaning may be performed or recommended, followed by further periodontal (gum) therapy if necessary.

Whatever the reason for the symptoms you’re experiencing, your team at Prime Time Dentistry offers effective treatment for toothache in Frisco, TX. To schedule your appointment, contact Prime Time Dentistry at 945-207-7463 or click this link to reserve online.