subject: How Serious Is Your Toothache? [print this page] A toothache can be a real pain and often times debilitating problem. It can lead to painful chewing, and it can make concentrating at work or school a difficult task. Even if the tooth pain is minor, putting off a visit to the dentist will most likely cause more harm than good.
Because toothaches originate for a wide variety of reasons, the first step to handling any toothache should be making an appointment with your Bucktown dentist. A dentist can quickly identify the source of the tooth pain and administer the most gentle and effective treatment for your particular problem.
What does My Toothache Mean?
Tooth pain comes in various degrees of severity and can arise for a variety of reasons. The cause of a toothache may include:
Impacted Wisdom Tooth
TMJ Disorder
Damaged filling
Teeth Grinding
Fractured or cracked tooth
Infected Gums
Abscess
Cavities
Nerve damage
Pulp irritation
Sinus Problems
Relieve Your Tooth Pain and Get to the Dentist
There are several ways to deal with tooth pain, but the best way to ease the pain and get to the root of the problem is to visit your Bucktown dentist for an oral exam. Depending on the cause of your pain, your dentist can then recommend the best course of action. Treatment for tooth pain can range from dental fillings and crowns to root canals.
When you are experiencing a toothache, no matter how intense the pain, the worst thing you can do is ignore the pain. Waiting for a toothache to go away on its own is generally ineffective, not to mention that tooth pain is generally the result of some underlying problem that requires professional care. With improved dental care and regular checkups, intense tooth pain can be managed in the early stages. Even if the pain diminishes by itself without any treatment, a proper diagnosis by your dentist is necessary to avoid any future complications.
Until you can get to your dentist, there are a few steps you can take from home to ease the pain. Always check with your dentist or physician first before administering any of the following.
Over-the-counter pain medications to reduce the pain surrounding the affected tooth
Warm saltwater rinse to remove any food particles that me aggravating the pain
Cold compress to reduce swelling
Elevate your head to reduce pain
Just because the pain disappears doesn't mean the problem is gone. Pain is a warning that something has gone wrong in your body, so don't ignore it. The problem may be more serious than a chipped tooth or cavity; pain in the lower jaw, for instance, may be a symptom of a heart problem.
Your Bucktown dentist offers advanced methods for identifying the source of tooth pain and can deliver effective, gentle treatment to stop the pain and preserve your teeth. Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices including regular dental checkups can prevent toothaches from happening in the first place.
