My teeth hurt. Should I go to the dentist?

Do your teeth hurt? Are you wondering about whether or not you should see your dentist for a professional assessment of your oral health. Here, our Mount Pearl dentists discuss some signs that may indicate a veterinary emergency.

Why do my teeth hurt?

A toothache is capable of bringing a throbbing pain to your mouth that can range from a minor annoyance to severe and debilitating discomfort. You likely don't need to be told to contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing this kind of dental emergency.

There are several different signs that indicate you should see a dentist right away, in addition to pain around the tooth. These include:

• Fever
• Facial swelling
• Bleeding in your mouth
• Swelling around the tooth
• Foul taste in your mouth or bad breath

Different factors that may be causing your tooth to feel painful include:

• Tooth decay
• Teeth grinding
• Infected nerve
• Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
• Abscessed tooth
• Damaged dental work
• Infections in the mouth

What to Do

If you are experiencing tooth pain, the first thing to do is to quell any bleeding using gauze. If the tooth (or a piece of a tooth) has been lost, try to locate it. Once found, dust off any debris (do not rinse with water).

If you can, place a missing tooth carefully back into its socket and gently bite down on it to keep it in. If you aren't able to place a tooth back into its socket, add a little milk to a lidded container and place the tooth inside - this can help to preserve the tooth and increase the likelihood that your dentist will be able to replace it.

If you are experiencing swelling or pain, try taking over-the-counter painkillers (while carefully following the instructions on the bottle for the recommended dose) and applying an icepack to the area.

You should then make an appointment with your dentist so the issue can be diagnosed and treated. Note that most dental pain will not stop on its own, and attempting to diagnose or treat the issue yourself could lead to serious issues long-term.

Depending on the cause of the pain, our dentists at Mount Pearl Dental in Mount Pearl may either tell you that you should come to our office right away for treatment, or make an appointment to see you as soon as possible.

Bookmark our website or search “dentist near me” in your favourite search engine and we will likely pop up.

If you have experienced trauma to the tooth that has caused a fracture or breakage, or if you are in severe pain that you are unable to manage yourself, call our office as soon as you are comfortable and safe. We will make room for you in our schedule as soon as possible for emergency dental treatment.

If your case is less severe, here are some other things you can do to manage your discomfort until your appointment time:

• Rinse your mouth using salt water
• Record your pain
• Keep your teeth clean
• If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth

Wondering if your toothache is a dental emergency? Our Mount Pearl dentists can assess your symptoms and book an appointment for you right away. Contact us today.