Are you dealing with an achy tooth? Toothaches can be excruciatingly painful, and they never seem to go away on their own. Even if you think that you’re tough enough to handle the pain, this doesn’t mean that you should continue on without dental attention. Tooth pain means that something isn’t quite right in your mouth, so you should have your dentist take a look. Continue reading to learn whether or not a toothache is considered a dental emergency and some of the possible causes.
Is Tooth Pain Considered a Dental Emergency?
If you have had a toothache for more than a day or two, and it is still causing you lots of discomfort, you could be dealing with a dental emergency. You might have a cavity, infection, or another issue that won’t be resolved on its own. Without proper treatment from an emergency dentist, it isn’t likely to get better on its own.
What Are the Causes of a Toothache?
Tooth pain can be caused by a variety of factors and ailments. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Cavity: If you have tooth decay that’s penetrated through the protective enamel and into the dentin of the tooth, you are likely to experience pain and discomfort when biting down. This is especially the case when you eat something that is sweet, hot, or cold.
- Infected tooth: When a cavity is left untreated, the entire tooth can become infected. This can mean extreme pain present, and you may require a root canal to save your tooth. If the infection is too severe, an extraction may be necessary. This type of pain is often times accompanied by sensitivity and swelling of the gums.
- Oral trauma: If you’ve recently experienced an injury to the mouth and you feel pain, one of your teeth could be broken or cracked.
- Bruxism (teeth grinding): Bruxism is a condition where you clench and/or grind your teeth, usually while sleeping. After doing this for a long period of time, stress is put on the ligaments and roots of the teeth, causing them to become achy. If you think this may be an issue, this is something that you should bring up to your dentist so you can come up with a solution.
Don’t let a toothache get in the way of your busy schedule. Go see your dentist. This way, they can get to the root of the problem, and you can experience some relief!
About the Author
Dr. Megan McInnis earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. Currently, she is a proud member of the American Dental Association and Oregon Dental Association. If you’re suffering from a toothache, she would be happy to help. For more information on emergency dentistry or to schedule an urgent appointment at her office in Portland, visit her website or call (503) 761-1414.