We all experience a sharp pain here or there in our teeth. These usually go away, but occasionally they’re the first indicator of something that needs to be treated quickly. The tough part, of course, is how do you tell the difference? If you’re in need of Urgent Dental Care Simi Valley, you’ve probably already been asking yourself if you should pick up the phone and call. Read on to learn how to determine if you’re toothache is an urgent concern.
Pain That Can Usually Wait
Not every pain is a dental emergency. Mild sensitivity to cold or sweets, a bit of mild soreness after biting into a hard object, or a slow, dull ache that goes away within a few minutes are signs of minor enamel wear, gum irritation, or a small cavity. They can wait a day or two, but do schedule an appointment soon.
Pain Caused by an Underlying Issue
Some things make even a regular toothache an emergency. If you have pain that is intense, regular or persistent, severe and throbbing pain, or any pain that has persisted more than one or two days, and causes you to wake up at night, and over the counter medicines do not help, it is almost always an emergency.
Pain With Swelling
Any swelling of the gums, cheek, or jaw. This is often a sign of infection and can spread very rapidly. Any tender lump on the gums or a swollen face with the pain from the tooth must be seen immediately. If the swelling makes it difficult to breathe, swallow or open your mouth, visit your emergency room.
Pain With Fever
A fever along with your tooth pain indicates that the infection may be spreading past your tooth. You may also experience fatigue and general malaise. Call a dentist the same day and get emergency attention if you’re extremely ill or disoriented.
Pain Following an Injury
Never ignore tooth pain after getting hit in the mouth. If it appears that nothing is broken, a tooth could have cracked, been knocked loose, or sustained internal injury. When a tooth is knocked out, it’s all about timing, and getting to the dentist within the first hour provides the greatest possibility of saving it.
Sharp Pain When Biting
A quick, sudden, relatively sharp shock when biting into something and then pulling away may indicate a cracked tooth. Cracks aren’t always detectable by the naked eye and can get worse with each meal. Treat early with a crown now, or risk losing the tooth.
Lingering Sensitivity
Short-term sensitivity is normal, but if the pain continues for a minute or more after the hot or cold is gone, the nerve is irritated. This might be the first sign that you need a root canal. The sooner you get checked out, the easier it might be to fix.
A Lump or Unpleasant Taste
An abscess will cause a pimple or zit-like bump on the gum, which might leak a little. Usually the abscess causes an unpleasant taste in your mouth. You might experience some temporary relief when the abscess drains, but the infection is still there and needs to be treated.
Pain That Isn’t From the Tooth
Sometimes you might experience tooth pain that has originated somewhere else. You might notice that sinus infection leads to pain in the top set of your teeth, or that jaw or tooth pain accompanied with shortness of breath, chest pressure, arm pain or sweating could be symptoms of heart disease. If this is the case call emergency services rather than a dentist.
What to Do While You Wait
Avoid rinsing with warm salt water, apply a cold compress to your cheek, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. Don’t eat on the affected side, and stay away from extremely hot and cold foods. Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum, as it may burn the tissue, and don’t attempt to drain the abscess yourself.
How to Choose
If your pain is mild and short, schedule an appointment. If it is intense, persistent, or associated with swelling, a fever or injury, treat it as urgent. If you are uncertain, call the office and tell us about your pain, so we can help you decide how soon you need to be seen.
Conclusion
An emergency situation for your tooth pain would certainly be an extreme pain or injury. If you have continuous pain in one or both of your teeth, and also it’s accompanied by either swelling or fever, this can be an indicator that you need to look for dental assistance immediately. Saving the number of an Emergency Dentist Simi Valley in your home is wonderful in order to help you’re prepared for an emergency.
FAQs
1. How long after tooth pain should I go to the dentist?
Pain is serious or if it lasts more than a day or two, call immediately. If it is mild and temporary, then you can wait for a normal appointment.
2. Will the pain of my tooth go away without treatment?
It may temporarily subside but the source remains and often worsens.
3. What you need to know about swelling and toothache
Yes. It’s a common sign of infection, and requires urgent medical attention. ER if air/swallowing is impacted.
4. What soothes toothache at home?
Until seen, you may find some relief by using warm salt water rinses, ice packs or cold compress, and OTC pain medication as directed.
5. Is the ER or dentist better for tooth pain?
Most of the time, you should still call a dentist first. Use the ER if it becomes hard to breathe, if bleeding does not stop, if swelling spreads or jaw is broken.
