WHY DOES MY TOOTH HURT?
REASONS FOR A SEVERE TOOTHACHE
Toothache
Common Dental Emergencies
- Toothaches
- Dental abscess
- Broken fillings
- Knocked-out tooth
- Broken denture/partial
- Lost crown or temporary
- Irritation from wearing braces
- Painful teething for a baby
- Painful, infected or decayed teeth
- Chipped, cracked, fractured or broken teeth
Relieve your pain, contact us today.
We are committed to providing quality services in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. All of the different treatment options and associated fees will be discussed prior to your treatment so that you are able to make an informed decision regarding your dental health.
While waiting to see your dentist, follow these steps to relieve yourself from the pain
How to Ease Dental pain
- Rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Use this to gargle several times a day.
- Take a Painkiller. Painkillers, like aspirin, can help ease the pain for the meantime. Only swallow them and do not apply directly to the affected part.
- Place a cold compress or hold ice against your cheek to help subside the pain.
Intermittent Sharp ‘Jabbing’ Pains
Sharp Tooth Sensitivity
Dull Toothache
Extreme Throbbing Pain
Pain Only When Eating
Pain at the Back of the Jaw
A Cracked Tooth
If you have sports injury or a nasty fall, you may have a cracked or fractured tooth. But did you realize that you can crack a tooth from something as simple as grinding your teeth? Even a microscopic crack can cause extreme pain. Some teeth may be severely damaged and must be removed.
An abscessed tooth
Some severe tooth pain may come and go, but pain associated with an abscessed tooth is constant and miserable. You can even feel the pain in your jawbone! An abscessed tooth occurs when bacteria infects the dental pulp. The pulp is the soft tissue inside your tooth.
Impacted wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause a wide range of problems. Often, there is not enough room for these teeth to come in properly, and they become impacted. This means that the tooth is not coming in straight or it’s not in the correct position.
A Deep Cavity
First, let’s make one thing clear: any cavity can cause pain. However, when you have a very deep cavity, the pain reaches a whole new level. Some of the symptoms of a deep cavity are:
- Sharp tooth pain, particularly when eating something sweet, cold or hot
- Toothache
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Sensitive teeth
- Holes or pits in your teeth
Need an Emergency Dentist in Lancashire?
We are a general and cosmetic dental clinic in Preston. If you have a dental emergency, and not registered with a dentist, please call our treatment Coordinator ; Yvonne on 01772-726932 to arrange for a consultation appointment.
What is a toothache?
Toothache is defined as pain around a single tooth, multiple teeth, or one or both jaws.
Why does this occur?
Toothaches can be caused by a variety of factors, including cavities, gum disease, cracked or broken teeth, exposed roots, sinus problems and jaw joint disease.
Symptoms and risks of having a toothache?
Toothaches may be accompanied by shooting pain, headaches, sinus pressure, earaches and neck pain. The risks of not treating the toothache depend on the cause.
What can I do until I see a dentist?
Until you are able to see the dentist, you should keep the area clean by rinsing with salt water and avoid chewing on the affected side. If you are in pain, you can also take an anti-inflammatory such as paracetamol, unless you are allergic.
What will the dentist do?
The dentist must determine the reason for the toothache before recommending a course of action. A thorough examination that includes x-rays can help determine the cause.
Identifying A Toothache
If you think that you are suffering from toothache, then you should look out for the following signs:
- Constant pain, often when pressure is applied to the area that is sore
- Swelling of the face around the area of the gum and tooth
- Increase in temperature of your body, showing you area fighting an infection
- Saliva that tastes bad, and you cannot understand why
Some people will have all of these symptoms, and some will just have a few, but no matter what the sort of pain is that you are feeling, you should definitely see a dentist. You do not have to live in pain.
If your pain is extreme you may feel as though you would like to go to an emergency room, which is why you should organize an appointment with your dentist as soon as you notice that you have significant pain. As you wait for your appointment, normal over-the-counter pain medication should be enough to help you to continue daily life – as long as you don’t exceed the maximum dosage.
Can a toothache be prevented?
No dentist can promise you that you will never suffer a toothache in your life, but you can greatly diminish the odds by ensuring that you treat your teeth to excellent dental care, and visit your dentist regularly so that they can keep an eye on them. Brushing daily with a toothpaste that contains and flossing every day will do wonders.
Dentists do not often have to do anything complicated in order to bring relief from toothache – most of the time it is just a filling that is required, although in some more extreme cases you may require a root canal or even an extraction. Many patients are also given antibiotics so that their body can fight any potential infection. Your dentist will use an x-ray to better understand exactly what is causing your toothache, and there may be a few other tests as well to make absolute sure. The important thing is to treat both the toothache itself and the actual cause.