Toothache Types and What They Mean
What a pain in the tooth!
Toothaches come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Sometimes the pain is minor, but other times the pain can become totally unbearable – and generally speaking, this is when people finally decide to take action.
Instead of waiting to the point of desperation, here are some ways to decode the toothache and identify in advance if you should make an appointment with a dental facility like Gole Dental Group.
If you feel a sharp, piercing pain, but it’s temporary….
This is a sign of tooth sensitivity. Take note of when you feel this shooting pain, is it when you eat or drink something too hot or too cold? Specially made toothpastes can assist with this, but if it begins seriously affecting your lifestyle, a crown may be in your future.
If you feel a chronic pain, that’s dull, but never goes away….
This is classified as a chronic toothache and may be caused by nerve damage within a tooth that has been worn down to the point that substances can penetrate, damaging the nerves and causing pain. There are many reasons for this including teeth grinding, cavities, and dental trauma. It’s best to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible before what was once a dull pain becomes something much worse.
If you feel pain, but only when you eat…
Experiencing pain, but only when you eat is a strong sign that you have a cracked tooth or severe tooth decay. See your dentist to fix the issue before it becomes infected and more painful.
Severe, throbbing pain…
This is the worst and it may be due to ab abscessed tooth. If you are also experiencing swelling in the part of your face that’s also the source of the pain, that’s a sure sign. A remedy for this involves a course of antibiotics and then visit to your dentist for either an extraction or possibly a root canal.
Signs that you need to contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
While the above pain levels are classified as toothaches, if you experience any of the following symptoms in combination with tooth pain, call an emergency dentist or medical doctor right away.
- High fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Inability to sleep or eat
- You notice a foul smelling or tasting discharge of pus coming from the affected tooth
- Swollen glands
These can be signs of a more serious infection and you should seek medical attention right away. Gole Dental in Hastings, Michigan, specializes in emergency dentistry including tooth extractions, root canals, pulpal debridement, tooth repair, soft tissue repair, and immediate temporary tooth replacement. If you are in need to immediate help, please call us at (269) 948-2244 or contact us online.
Ready to learn more? Check out the following resources from Gole Dental.