Do your teeth hurt? Are you considering going to see your dentist? Our Edmonton dentists list some symptoms that point to a dental emergency.
Why do my teeth hurt?
If you've got a toothache, you might be feeling a throbbing pain in your mouth that can be quite severe. You probably don't need to be told to get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible if you are dealing with this emergency.
There are many different symptoms that indicate you should visit a dentist right away, along with pain around the tooth. these include:
- Facial swelling
- Bad breath or foul taste in your mouth
- Swelling around the tooth
- Fever
- Bleeding in your mouth
Different factors that may be causing your tooth to feel painful include:
- Teeth grinding
- Tooth decay
- Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
- Abscessed tooth
- Damaged dental work
- Infections in the mouth
- Infected nerve
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 possible, place the tooth carefully into the socket, and bite down gently. If you’re not able to push the tooth back into the socket, add some milk to a lidded container and place the tooth inside. This may help preserve the tooth and make it more likely 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 Emergency Dental Clinics in Edmonton 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:
- Record your pain
- Rinse your mouth using salt water
- Keep your teeth clean
- If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth