Why Your Teeth Might Hurt
A toothache can be accompanied by throbbing pain that can be quite severe. You probably don’t need to be told to contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing this emergency.
There are several different signs that indicate you should see a dentist right away, in addition to pain around the tooth. These include:
- Foul taste in your mouth or bad breath
- Bleeding in your mouth
- Facial swelling
- Fever
- Swelling around the tooth
Different factors that may be causing your tooth to feel painful include:
- Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
- Infections in the mouth
- Infected nerve
- Tooth decay
- Abscessed tooth
- Teeth grinding
- Damaged dental work
What to Do If Your Teeth Hurt
If you have a toothache that has been caused by trauma, you'll need to start by stopping any bleeding. If the tooth (or a piece of a tooth) has been lost, try to locate it. Once found, dust off any debris (do not rinse with water).
If possible, place the tooth carefully into the socket, and bite down gently. If you’re not able to push the tooth back into the socket, add some milk to a lidded container and place the tooth inside. This may help preserve the tooth and make it more likely that your dentist will be able to replace it.
If you are experiencing swelling or pain, try taking over-the-counter painkillers (while carefully following the instructions on the bottle for the recommended dose) and applying an icepack to the area.
You should then make an appointment with your dentist so the issue can be diagnosed and treated. Note that most dental pain will not stop on its own, and attempting to diagnose or treat the issue yourself could lead to serious issues long-term.
Depending on how your tooth pain has begun, our dental team at Dandelion Dental in Whitehorse may offer to help you right away if they can, or we will make you an appointment to be seen as soon as possible.
Bookmark our website or search “dentist near me” in your favourite search engine and we will likely pop up.
If you have experienced trauma to the tooth that has caused a fracture or breakage, or if you are in severe pain that you are unable to manage yourself, call our office as soon as you are comfortable and safe. We will make room for you in our schedule as soon as possible for emergency dental treatment.
If your case is less severe, here are some other things you can do to manage your discomfort until your appointment time:
- Rinse your mouth using salt water
- Record your pain
- Keep your teeth clean
- If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth