Toothaches are a tooth’s painful way of letting you know that something isn’t as it should be. Most toothaches are caused by tooth decay, which means you’ll need to see the dentist in order to get it checked out. Let’s talk about why you might get a toothache, the symptoms of a toothache, and what to do about it if you get one.
Toothaches
Causes
There are several things that can cause a toothache, but the most likely culprit is tooth decay. Tooth decay leads to bacteria getting into places where they shouldn’t be. This causes an infection, which causes your tooth to hurt. An abscessed tooth (where bacteria gets in between the tooth and the gum) is one example of this. But, this isn’t the only possibility. A damaged filling could be causing your toothache, as could a fractured tooth. Also, if you grind your teeth, you may find yourself experience tooth and/or jaw pain.
Symptoms
Of course, the pain of a toothache is the most recognizable symptom. This pain could be constant, or might only occur when you apply pressure to the tooth, while you’re eating, for example. You might also experience swelling in the area, or their might be a drainage coming from the tooth. Toothaches may be accompanied by a headache or fever as well.
Treatment
If you have a toothache that lasts for more than a day or two, is very severe, or is accompanied by a fever, earache, or pain that occurs when you open your mouth wide, see your dentist in Olney as soon as you can. This is because you most likely have an infection in the area, and infections in the mouth can easily spread to other parts of the body. Treatment will be consistent with the nature of the problem. It could be as simple as filling a cavity, but more complex treatments such as a root canal or even extraction (in severe cases) may be required. In any case, the sooner you see a dentist in Olney for your toothache, the better.
Come see the dentists at Olney Dental for treatment for your toothache today. We’re conveniently located on the campus of Montgomery General Hospital, and provide care for all ages for children to adults and seniors. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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