Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency? Toothaches are generally a sign that you’re suffering from either decay or an oral infection. However, there are many other situations that could cause a toothache as well, ranging from mild to serious. If your toothache has any of the following qualities, you should call us right away for emergency dental treatment:

Severe pain that’s lasted more than 24 hours
A small bump on the gums near the painful tooth
Darkening, numbness, or looseness in the painful tooth
Sharp pain when biting down or opening your mouth wide

How you should handle a toothache: Carefully rinse your mouth with warm water, and then gently floss around the tooth to make sure the pain is not being caused by any debris. You can use a cold compress or take an over-the-counter-pain medication to provide relief until you can see us, but be sure to NOT place an aspirin directly onto your gums near the tooth, as this can damage them.

How we treat toothaches: How we treat your toothache will depend entirely on what’s causing it. After all, a toothache caused by an infection won’t need the same treatment as a toothache cause by enamel damage. Some of our most common treatments for toothaches include fillings, antibiotics, dental crowns, a nightguard for bruxism, or root canal therapy.

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