Do your teeth ache? Do you want to know if you should see a dentist? Our Calgary dentists discuss some warning signs of an emergency.
Why do my teeth hurt?
A toothache can bring throbbing pain to your mouth and be quite severe. You probably don’t need to be told to contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing this emergency.
Several different signs indicate you should see a dentist right away, in addition to pain around the tooth. These include:
- Foul taste in your mouth or bad breath
- Fever
- Swelling around the tooth
- Facial swelling
- Bleeding in your mouth
Different factors that may be causing your tooth to feel painful include:
- Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
- Abscessed tooth
- Infected nerve
- Damaged dental work
- Infections in the mouth
- Tooth decay
- Teeth grinding
What to Do
If you have tooth pain, the first thing you should do is use gauze to stop any bleeding. Try to find the tooth (or a piece of a tooth) if it has been lost. Remove any debris that has been discovered (do not rinse with water).
If possible, carefully insert the tooth into the socket and bite down gently. If you can't get the tooth back into the socket, fill a lidded container with milk and place the tooth inside. This may aid in the preservation of the tooth and increase the likelihood that your dentist will be able to replace it.
If you have swelling or pain, try taking over-the-counter pain relievers (while carefully following the directions on the bottle for the recommended dose) and applying an icepack to the affected area.
You should then schedule an appointment with your dentist to have the problem diagnosed and treated. It is important to note that most dental pain will not go away on its own, and attempting to diagnose or treat the problem yourself may result in long-term complications.
Depending on the cause of your pain, our dentists at Pensak Houghton Dentistry in Calgary may tell you to come to our office right away for treatment, or they may schedule an appointment to see you as soon as possible.
Bookmark our website or type "dentist near me" into your preferred search engine, and we will most likely appear.
If you have had a tooth trauma that resulted in a fracture or breakage, or if you are in severe pain that you are unable to manage on your own, please contact our office as soon as you are comfortable and safe. We will fit you into our schedule as soon as possible for emergency dental care.
If your case is less severe, here are some other things you can do to manage your discomfort until your appointment time:
- Rinse your mouth using saltwater
- Record your pain
- Keep your teeth clean
- If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth