Are you suffering from tremendous pain in and around the teeth and jaws? You may feel toothache when eating or drinking hot food and cold drinks that can make it worse. This occurs when the most sensitive part, known as the pulp, gets inflamed. This may take place due to several reasons which include – cavities and gum infection. The dedicated team at Dulwich Dental Office is ready to help you be toothache free.
When should you visit a dental surgeon?
If you are facing dental pain for more than a day, visit a dentist to get the treatment done on time. The longer you may delay your discomfort, the worse it will become. As such, if the severe pain is not treated on time, the pulp may get infected in due course of time. This may lead to dental issues who have severe and continuous irritation. There are painkillers available to lessen the discomfort; however children below 16 years should not be given pain relieving pills before consulting the dentist.
What causes toothache?
Usually, this occurs when the pulp gets inflamed. The pulp is made of blood vessels and sensitive nerves. Dental pulp may become inflamed due to the following reasons:
- Decayed teeth – This causes cavities that are formed in the hard surface of your precious gems.
- A cracked tooth – Sometimes, the crack is very small that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
- Broken or loose fillings – Occasionally, a molar may crack or fracture for reasons other than cavities. This means when you bite something that is unexpectedly hard. These cracks may cause damage to the pulp, if not attended on time.
- Receding gums – This is where the gums contract to expose sensitive and soft part of the tooth root.
- Periapical abscess – The collection of pus at the root that are caused due to bacterial infection.
Other conditions that may cause dental pain when the pulp is not affected are:
- Sore or swollen gums – This happens when the wisdom teeth starts to grow around a molar that is almost breaking.
- Sinusitis – Sometimes, it may cause irritation around the upper jaw.
Babies may also experience sudden ache and discomfort when their milky whites begin to develop. This process is called teething. You may find your emergency dentist in London for toothache pain relief and stay away from mouth problems.
How can you treat toothache?
The kind of treatment depends on the cause of the irritation you have. It is advisable to talk to your dentist who will examine the mouth carefully and may carry out an X-ray to identify the exact cause of irritation. If the toothache is due to decay, your dental surgeon will remove the decayed area and replace it with a filling. However, if it is caused due to broken or loose filling, decay will be removed and new filling will be put in place.
If the pulp gets infected, you may need to go for root canal treatment. This process involves extracting the infected pulp, inserting a special kind of filling to seal the affected area and thus, prevent further infection. However, you may need to extract your teeth if the pain cannot be treated with any of these methods. Talk to the team at a Dulwich Dental Office to know more about how you can treat your toothache.
How can you prevent toothache?
The most suitable way to overcome oral problems is to keep your teeth and gums healthy and strong. For this, you should:
- Restrict the intake of sugary foods, sweets and drinks.
- Brush twice a day with a Fluoride toothpaste and gently brush your gums and tongue.
- Clean between the teeth by flossing and use a mouthwash, if needed.
- Avoid smoking – it can make dental issues worse.
You need to go for dental checkups regularly and know if teeth and gums are in good condition. Your dentist will tell when you need to have your next check-up based on your oral health. They may also give you some toothache remedies to follow at home. Children should have a dental check-up once every six months so any decay can be spotted easily and treated at the initial stage.
