If you’re hard at work during the weekday and tooth pain strikes suddenly, it can be a difficult decision on what to do. On the one hand, you want to get through your day and get things done. On the other hand, the pain is distracting and might need to be investigated.
So, what do you do? Is a toothache always an emergency situation? Or can you just “tough it out?” Continue reading to discover the truth about tooth pain and why it should never be ignored.
Tooth Pain Is a Dental Emergency
Your teeth are the only part of your body that cannot heal themselves. Once an infection or decay reaches the delicate inner part of your tooth, the pain is a signal that something is wrong.
Sometimes the pain is light sensitivity, and it can wait until you can schedule your next dental appointment. However, if the pain is severe or lingering, you should go to a dentist as soon as possible.
Why Is Tooth Pain an Emergency?
Teeth are made up of three distinct layers:
- The enamel is the strong, hard outer portion of the tooth. It is a mineralized bone shell over the rest of the tooth.
- The dentin is the inner layer of your tooth, just below the enamel. This is the flexible, supporting structure of the tooth that gives it stability in your gums.
- The pulp is the innermost chamber of each of your teeth where the nerve endings reside. These nerves are sensitive and send signals to your brain that cause pain when they are irritated or threatened.
Whatever has breached your tooth to the pulp is serious as it has made it through your teeth’s defenses. The infection, decay, or trauma has set off your tooth’s alarm, signaling that it needs to be taken care of.
Without immediate treatment, you’ll be in pain longer, and risk the possibility of a serious infection that could cause more damage, spread to other teeth, or in some cases make you sick.
What to Do When You Have a Toothache
The first thing you should do whenever you experience intense pain, or dull pain that lasts longer than a few minutes is call your dentist and ask if they can see you within twenty-four hours.
While you wait to go to the dentist, you can manage the pain a few different ways:
- Press a cold pack to the cheek in the area where the pain is felt to reduce swelling. Be sure to wrap it with a paper towel or cloth so that the cold doesn’t further shock the sensitive tooth.
- Gently floss around the afflicted tooth to remove food and debris before rinsing your mouth with warm salty water. This will slow down or inhibit the bacteria causing the pain.
- Use an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen to reduce the discomfort.
Tooth pain should always be considered a priority, even if it isn’t an emergency that should be treated right away. Even if you’re not currently suffering from pain, it would be beneficial to create an emergency tooth plan to get you to the dentist when you need it most.
About the Author
Dr. Shahram Modarres believes that going above and beyond for his patients is what sets him apart from other practices. He earned his dental doctorate at the New York University School of Dentistry and has since completed countless hours of continuing education training through professional organizations like the Academy of General Dentistry. To schedule an appointment at Rockville Family Dentistry, call (301) 816-9400 or visit the website for more information.