Tooth pain can be troublesome and annoying. Most people think that it is just that and that it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, tooth pain does resolve itself, but there are definitely times when tooth pain should send you to your family dentist for a visit. Get to know some of the times when you should visit the family dentist for tooth pain. Then, you can be sure you are doing what you can to take the best care of your oral health going forward.
The Pain Lasts More Than a Day or Two
If you have tooth pain that lasts more than a day or two, it is unlikely that the pain will resolve on its own. You could have an infection, a cracked tooth, or another issue causing the pain that your dentist can deal with and address for you. Avoiding the dentist when the pain persists beyond 48 hours can lead to further damage or a worsened infection.
You Have Swelling in Your Mouth or Jaw
When your tooth pain is accompanied by swelling in your mouth or jaw, particularly if it is visually noticeable, you should head to the dentist as soon as possible. This can be the result of a severe dental infection. The tooth may need to be extracted, or antibiotics may need to be administered.
Your Gums Are Bleeding
If your tooth aches and you have bleeding in your mouth and gums, you need dental care. It is possible that the pain in your tooth is the result of an exposed nerve from gum disease (gums recede and expose the nerves when a person has gum disease).
Gum disease can be serious as it can cause other health issues and has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. So, if you have bleeding gums with your tooth pain, call your family dentist for an appointment.
You Also Have a Fever
Go to the dentist if you have a fever along with your toothache. Again, this is a sign of infection, and it could be an infection that has spread beyond the tooth in question. Your dentist can address the tooth pain and is able to prescribe oral antibiotics (as well as medicated mouthwashes) to help deal with the pain and the infection. Do not ignore the fever and dismiss it. Your health is on the line.
Knowing these times to visit a dentist for tooth pain, you can be sure that you call your family dentist at the first sign of any of these issues.
Our oral surgery and general dental website offers important information on how to prevent dry socket following a tooth extraction. After getting your tooth pulled, a protective blood clot develops over the extraction site. Many of our blog posts explain how this protective clot helps promote healing after an extraction.
You'll learn that if the clot is accidentally dislodged, dry socket may occur, which can raise your risk for infection and heavy bleeding. We'll provide you with important tips on how to prevent this by avoiding smoking and drinking through a straw. You'll also learn that swishing water around your mouth should be avoided for a couple of days following your extraction because doing so creates a suction that may dislodge your clot, leading to dry socket.