How to Tell If a Toothache Is a Dental Emergency

What's the best way to deal with a toothache? It's to see your dentist to have the cause identified and treated. However, the intensity of the toothache may well determine just how quickly you get around to doing this. Sometimes it can be difficult to assess the intensity of a toothache, and whether the matter calls for emergency dentistry.

Your Own Investigation

It can be helpful to investigate whether your toothache has a cause you can identify yourself. Is the tooth in question healthy and intact? Try (gently) flossing around the tooth. A small fragment of food may be trapped and applying unnatural pressure to the tooth, which can be surprisingly uncomfortable. Gentle flossing can dislodge the troublemaker, and this should be followed with a saltwater rinse. However, avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes. A saltwater rinse has mild antiseptic properties which won't aggravate sensitive gingival tissues, unlike an alcohol-based mouthwash. This method can be helpful in alleviating toothache that seemingly came out of nowhere.

Damaged Teeth

When the toothache is centred around a tooth that appears to be compromised (decayed or otherwise deteriorated), your toothache won't be going anywhere without professional assistance. The tooth in question will need to be restored, and it may need a root canal if its nerve has become inflamed or infected. This shouldn't be delayed but isn't necessarily an emergency. Schedule an appointment with your regular dentist, and your discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication until you can see your dentist.

Abscessed Teeth

Some toothaches are clearly dental emergencies, and this is very much the case when a tooth becomes abscessed. A dental abscess is a type of infection. A periapical abscess is when the infection is largely contained within the tooth's pulp (its nerve). A periodontal abscess is when the infection has spread outwards. These infections can intensify with surprising speed, so mild discomfort can quickly become agonising pain. The gum tissues at the base of the tooth will be inflamed, and an intraoral dental sinus may form. This is an accumulation of pus and often resembles a pimple. Dental abscesses can be extremely painful, and the subsequent infection can be quite serious. See an emergency dentist, as your abscess will only get worse. The dentist will administer pain relief and drain the infection. Antibiotics may be necessary. The tooth itself will require restoration (often with a root canal), but this is often delayed until the infection is controlled.

Some toothaches don't justify immediate attention, but some (such as those where the causative tooth is abscessed) require emergency assistance. If you suspect you have an abscessed tooth, remember that the problem is likely to worsen considerably until you see a dentist. to learn more, contact an emergency dentist.

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