Protecting your oral health includes proper brushing, flossing, rinsing, eating a well-balanced diet, and visiting your dentist for routine exams and cleanings. While these steps are considered priorities for many, certain issues that affect the look and health of your smile may still arise. Toothaches are one of the most common complaints heard by dentists daily, but most people do not truly understand the causes of these painful issues. Using this guide and your dentist's help, you will become more familiar with the causes and treatment options for toothaches.

Toothache Signs

If you are experiencing pain in and around a tooth, it is most likely a toothache. The amount of discomfort varies from person to person. While some patients experience a dull ache, others can suffer from intense pain that spreads through their entire mouth and jaw.

In some instances, a toothache can cause headaches and ear pain while decreasing your ability to eat, chew, or even open your mouth.

Toothache Causes

Diagnosing this problem is simple, but determining the cause of the pain can be a bit more difficult.

Tooth pain can be caused by a variety of issues including decay, an abscess, infected gums, fracture, or broken fillings.

Prevention is your best weapon against tooth pain, so it is important to brush, floss, and visit your dentist periodically for checkups. If you have damaged your tooth or filling, schedule an appointment as soon as possible to prevent the development of an infection and toothache.

Toothache Treatment

Over-the-counter numbing gels and even ibuprofen can be used to relieve some of your pain, but these medications will not treat the root cause of your toothache. If left untreated, the dental issue will worsen, increasing your pain even further.

If your pain lasts for a few days and you have developed swelling in the jaw, foul breath, and a fever, it is important to seek out emergency care immediately. Any tooth pain that is accompanied by a fever is most likely an abscess, which is a dangerous infection of the tooth root.

The abscess will not improve on its own. Unfortunately, the infection will spread through the blood stream, resulting in life-threatening conditions. While shocking to learn, many Americans are hospitalized each year for a tooth abscess.

Antibiotics and a possible extraction are essential for treating an abscessed tooth.

Toothaches may be common, but they should be taken seriously. If you are currently dealing with a toothache, do not wait. Visit your dentist today to find and treat the cause of this painful dental issue. Contact a clinic, like Family First Dentistry LLC, for more help.