If you have ever had a toothache then you know how inconvenient, painful, and annoying they can be. A toothache can mean that there are serious underlying issues that need to be addressed by a skilled dentist. First, lets talk about what can cause a toothache, then symptoms you may experience, and finally how to know when it is time to be seen by a dentist.
Causes of a Toothache
There are many causes of a toothache. Usually one of the causes below is contributing to tooth pain.
- Fractured tooth
- Decay
- Abscessed tooth
- Infected gums
- Teeth grinding
- Excessive gum chewing
- Filling issues
Symptoms
There are many symptoms you may experience from a toothache. You may experience one or multiple symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, then it is very important that a dentist sees you as soon as possible.
- Tooth pain can be persistent or intermittent sharp or dull pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Drainage from affected tooth that has a foul taste
- Inflammation around the tooth
When to See a Dentist
It can sometimes be difficult to know when a toothache is severe enough to get seen by a dentist. If you experience any thing on the list below then it is vital that a dentist sees you as soon as possible.
- Severe pain
- Pain or earache when opening your mouth
- The pain wakes you up at night
- Toothache that lasts 48 hours or longer
If you think you need to be seen by a dentist due to tooth pain, then please give our very experienced, professional and caring staff a call at Drs. Batten & Heath Family Dentistry a call today.