Toothache

On February 9, we celebrate National Toothache Day! Sounds like an oxymoron, right? No one every “celebrates” something that causes such pain, especially when it prevents us from eating! We can, however, celebrate good oral health care and things you can do to prevent a toothache.

The Root of a Toothache

There are a number of reasons your tooth or teeth can cause you pain. Have you ever had sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages after doing a whitening treatment? Or what about soreness after a terrible night’s sleep and clenching your jaw? Not every toothache is the sign of a serious infection. Here are common occurrences you may find discomfort:

• • Loose or broken filling

• • Pressure from congested sinuses

• • Sensitivity to hot/cold

• Grinding teeth or clenching jaw

Typically, these less severe concerns can be remedied quickly. However, there are problems that may need more immediate attention. Such as:

• • Chipped or cracked tooth

• • Tooth knocked out

• • Tooth decay

• • Abscessed tooth

• • Inflammation

• • Exposed tooth root

• Gum disease

Signs of a Toothache

Often times, pain in your tooth isn’t always the first sign of oral problems. You may experience the following:

• • Headache

• • Fever

• • Bad Breath

• • Sensitivity to hot/cold

• Pain in your cheeks, ears or jaw

After these symptoms, then you may start feeling the ache in your tooth, trouble chewing, and so on. And there are varying levels of toothaches, you may feel a dull or sharp pain depending on the severity.

Remedies for a Toothache

When you start feeling the pain, it’s important to investigate your mouth to see where the problem is occurring. If you don’t see something chipped, cracked, broken or bleeding try rising your mouth with warm salt water. Then try flossing. If you have something stuck between your teeth, then this will usually do the trick.

To eliminate the immediate pain, you may consider taking something over the counter like aspirin or Tylenol – please make sure you consult with your doctor if you are taking other medications or you haven’t taking one of these pain suppressants before.

Applying a cold compress to the area in question may also alleviate some of the pressure, swelling and pain. After these quick tips, and you still have pain, you may need to consult your dentist.

When to Consult a Dentist

“If you’re experiencing pain in your mouth lasting for more than 24 hours, please call our office to schedule an appointment,” says Dr. Espinosa. Read more about dental emergencies in our blog article listed below, but know if you are experiencing a fever, swelling, intense pain or bleeding, we need to see you immediately.

Preventing a Toothache

Let’s avoid a toothache altogether by practicing good oral health care. This means, brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day and visiting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings. If you play sports, it’s important to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. Mouthguards can also help you in your sleep if you have a problem grinding your teeth or clinching your jaw. For the most part, aches and pains in your mouth can be prevented. If you have any questions, please contact our office to schedule a free consultation or second opinion.

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Also, if you found this article interesting, you may also enjoy these:

Is it a Dental Emergency?

We continue to get the question, is it a dental emergency when…? So we thought we would elaborate on a few common occurrences patients come across, and whether or not you should call your dentist immediately. You may feel sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages, or you may have a sore in your mouth, or you may chip a tooth. In any situation, we want you to be prepared. No need to panic, here are a few tips to help you determine if you need to call our emergency line after business hours.

3 Most Important Reasons for Routine Dental Visits 

A routine dental visit isn’t just to get your teeth cleaned. While removing plaque and tartar is important, the dentist also checks for cavities, signs of disease in your mouth, tongue, gums, neck and lymph nodes, and goes below the surface with X-Rays. There are a number of reasons you should visit the dentist regularly, and here are the three most important.

5 Most Common Causes of Chipped or Cracked Teeth 

Did you know, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body? However, that doesn’t mean you should use your pearly whites to open bottle caps! We see a number of interesting and rare occurrences when it comes to chipping, cracking and breaking teeth. But there are several reoccurring instances, which you can avoid, to keep that smile unbreakable. Check out these five most common causes that can lead to chipped or cracked teeth.

Know Someone Who Deserves Free Dental Treatment?

We are committed to giving back to the community, which is why every month we award a patient with a complementary treatment, including exam; X-ray, cleanings, extractions, crowns, dentures, even braces!

And you can help us choose the recipient. Simply let us know someone you think deserves and/or will greatly benefit from these dental services. We will choose a new winner each month. Please email [email protected] and let us know who you nominate for free dental treatment.

Follow us on our social channels, Facebook and Google+, to receive more frequent updates, special offers, promotions and more! Right now we have a new patient special including a teeth cleaning, exam and x-rays for only $95 (that’s a $200 savings). Call us for more details, (619) 482-3264.

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