Are you feeling pain or discomfort when you eat? Do cold drinks and winter air cause a stinging sensation in your mouth? Is there a dull, aching feeling in your tooth or jaw?
Toothaches are very common and can be caused by a few different things. While toothaches happen all the time, it’s important to speak with a dentist to make sure that the cause of your pain is not an emergency that could develop into something worse if not treated right away.
Here are some common causes of toothaches:
• Something stuck in your gums or in between your teeth
• A cavity
• A chip or crack
• Clenching or grinding during the night or when under stress
• A dental abscess (an infection in the tooth)
• Tooth decay
• Gum infection
• A tooth growing through the gumline (often your wisdom teeth)
What causes the pain?
Your teeth are full of something called pulp, which is a soft tissue that’s full of many nerves and blood vessels. These are the most sensitive nerves in your body, so when anything irritates them, it hurts much more than an injury to a different area of your body.
What should I do if I have a toothache?
If you have a toothache, contact your family dentist in Sherwood Park right away. Your toothache could be something minor, like some popcorn stuck in your teeth after a movie, but it could also be caused by a serious infection, or a small crack in your tooth that could get worse without proper diagnosis and treatment.
How can I treat a toothache at home?
While it’s important to make a dentist appointment as soon as you start feeling pain in your tooth, it might take some time before you can be seen. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort while you wait.
• Rinse with warm water – this can loosen debris and reduce inflammation. Half of a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water should do it.
• Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide.
• Hold a cold compress against your face in the area where you are feeling pain for about 20 minutes. You can make a cold compress by wrapping a bag of ice cubes or frozen vegetables in a towel.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen will help with the pain, while Ibuprofen will reduce inflammation and reduce the pain.
If you have a toothache, call our team at Vitavio Family Dental Clinic in Sherwood Park to schedule an appointment today. We’ll assess your current condition, help determine what is causing your pain, and work with you to find the best treatment option for your unique situation. Our dental office is growing and accepting new patients and emergencies.