It’s hard to enjoy life when your teeth are giving you the fits. Dental problems can sideline even the toughest of us, but with today’s advancements there is really no reason to suffer in silence. Surprisingly, some of the most excruciating pain known to mankind can be cured and even prevented with regular trips to the dentist.
Since the symptoms of a toothache may resemble other medical conditions or dental problems, it can be difficult to diagnose the cause without a complete evaluation by your dentist. If you notice pus near the source of the pain, your tooth may have become abscessed, causing the surrounding bone and tissue to become infected. Or the pus could indicate gum disease, which is usually characterized by inflammation of the soft tissue, bleeding gums, and abnormal loss of bone surrounding the teeth.
While tooth decay is often the primary cause of a toothache, it’s important for you to have a complete oral examination to determine the cause. Other causes of a toothache can include the following:
- Infection
- Gum disease
- Grinding teeth (bruxism)
- Tooth trauma
- An abnormal bite
- Tooth eruption (in babies and school-age children)
Anyone with a toothache should see a dentist immediately for diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, a toothache and the condition that is causing it can worsen. our dentist will conduct a complete oral examination to determine the location and cause of the toothache, looking for signs of swelling, redness, and obvious tooth damage. He or she may also take X-rays to look for evidence of tooth decay between teeth, a cracked or impacted tooth or a disorder of the underlying bone.
Your dentist also may prescribe pain medication or antibiotics to speed the healing of your toothache. If by the time you see your dentist your tooth has become infected, then treatment could require removal of the tooth or a root canal procedure, which involves removing the damaged nerve tissue from the middle of a tooth.
The key to preventing toothaches is establishing a regular oral hygiene routine and sticking to it. For example, failure to brush and floss regularly after meals can significantly increase your risk of developing cavities.
To learn more about how your dentist can help treat your toothache, call Dedicated Dental at (702) 566-5509, or request an appointment online.
