What to Do When a Tooth Begins to Ache?
Noticing a tooth is beginning to ache is enough to make anyone feel miserable. A toothache can be tremendously painful, and if you are in this situation, you probably want to find relief quickly. So what should you do when your tooth begins to hurt, and why does it begin to ache? Does a toothache always require professional dental care?
Schedule An Emergency Dental Appointment
If you have an aching tooth, we suggest coming to visit us here at West Bowmanville Family Dental as soon as you can. There is always a reason why a tooth begins to ache, and the sooner you seek treatment, the more quickly we can help relieve discomfort. Also, an untreated toothache can gradually worsen, and there is a far better chance we can save the tooth and restore it when you come to see us promptly.
It is especially important to see us for emergency dental care in Courtice if you have a fever, feel unwell or have facial swelling. These can indicate an abscessed tooth that requires immediate treatment.
You can contact our dental office in Newcastle to make an emergency dental appointment. Our kind, caring dental team can also offer useful advice over the phone to help you feel more comfortable until you see us.
What Can Cause Toothache?
There are many reasons why a tooth might begin to ache, and often it’s due to a cavity in a tooth. When you have an untreated cavity, you probably find your tooth hurts while eating, and it may hurt more when you try to bite down on the tooth. You might be able to see the cavity in the tooth or that the tooth is looking discoloured, and another symptom is developing persistent bad breath. If the cavity is especially deep, it can reach the tooth nerve, causing substantial pain and, in the worst case, may develop into a dental abscess.
Another reason for toothache may be teeth grinding and clenching. This sleep disorder can wear down teeth substantially, exposing the dentin underneath tooth enamel and increasing the risk of tooth sensitivity and pain. Even a crack in a tooth can cause pain; the crack will open slightly every time you bite down, allowing infection-causing bacteria to enter the tooth. The affected tooth may feel more painful whenever you eat anything very sweet or sour or hot or cold. If you have yet to get your wisdom teeth, these can cause pain when they try to erupt, especially if they are impacted and cannot fully push through the gums.
Ageing dental work can cause toothache if it becomes damaged or leaks or if an older filling starts to crumble or fall out. All restorations need replacing eventually, and it is important to get them replaced as soon as they start to fail.
Receiving Professional Dental Care for Toothache
No matter the cause, it is important to see a dentist in Clarington for toothache as it cannot clear up without professional dental care. When you come to see us, we can evaluate the tooth and will most likely want to x-ray yet to see the extent of the damage and infection in areas hidden from view. Once we have evaluated the tooth, we can discuss the most suitable way to treat it. Often, a toothache can be treated successfully by repairing the tooth. A more severe tooth infection may need root canal therapy to eliminate the infection. If you have a leaking filling or an ageing restoration, we can talk about replacing it. Modern dental restorations like crowns and bridges can look fabulous when made using the latest all-ceramic materials.