Just like the sugary beverages that cause so many toothaches, tooth pain comes in many different varieties. Dental pain can range in severity from hardly noticeable to abject misery, and it can take forms like soreness, throbbing, sensitivity, or a stabbing sensation when biting down. Depending on what causes it and how much it interferes with your activities of daily living, tooth discomfort may be a dental emergency. Here’s a brief guide to some of the different types of tooth pain and how to tell if you need an emergency dentist.
Dental Sensitivity Can be a Nuisance or a Crisis
Almost anyone will experience sensitive teeth in their lives, and this can happen for reasons such as eroded enamel, receded gums, oral infection, crowding due to emerging wisdom teeth, recent dental treatments such as teeth whitening, or even something stuck in the smile. Most cases of dental sensitivity are mild and temporary and can be addressed by:
- Brushing and flossing
- Using desensitizing toothpaste
- Avoiding hot, cold, spicy, acidic, or sweet foods or beverages until the sensitivity goes away
However, if your dental sensitivity causes severe pain, affects only one or two teeth, lasts longer than thirty seconds at a time, or is still present after several days, it’s a great idea to contact your emergency dentist to schedule an appointment.
It’s a Mistake to Ignore a Throbbing Toothache
While a tooth may be mildly sore for a while due to a glancing blow to the mouth or a recent dental procedure such as a filling, dental crown, or root canal, this can often be managed with a cold compress or over-the-counter pain medication. However, a persistent, severe, throbbing toothache is a cause for alarm because it may be the result of an infection that will lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
The human mouth is home to millions of bacteria, and not all of them are good for your oral health. Harmful oral bacteria feed on the sugars left in the residue of what we eat and drink, and they will infect your teeth and soft tissues if allowed to accumulate. After these bacteria eat their way through the hard enamel and dentin layers of a tooth, they can infect the soft pulp at the center, resulting in a miserable throbbing toothache. If you experience a severe toothache for longer than twenty-four hours, make an appointment with your emergency dentist for as soon as possible.
While dental pain isn’t always an emergency, knowing how to tell if it is can save you from tooth loss and further discomfort. Keeping your emergency dentist’s contact information handy is a great way to ensure your smile can get the help it needs if disaster strikes.
About the Author
Dr. Xhelo Shuaipaj earned his dental degree from the Loyola University College of Dental Surgery and has served the Downers Grove and Lemont communities for over 25 years. He holds Fellowships with the Doctors for Oral Conscious Sedation and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, dial (630) 968-8439 for the Downers Grove office or (630) 243-8300 for Lemont. For non-urgent inquiries, contact him online.