Toothaches, while not necessarily dangerous, might suggest more serious concerns. If you have a toothache and have tried unsuccessful at-home remedies, contact your O'Fallon dentist right away.
Tooth soreness can occur for a variety of causes. Look for these symptoms to see whether your toothache is serious:
Pain lasts more than a day or two.
It is critical that you take tooth discomfort seriously, no matter how severe or chronic it is. In reality, your toothache might indicate a cavity or a sinus infection, among other dangerous diseases.
Pain that lasts more than a day or two usually indicates a problem, such as a dead tooth, gum disease, fractured or cracked teeth, infection, or abscess in the mouth. Delaying treatment for this type of tooth pain might make it worse, spread, or even result in irreversible damage or tooth loss.
Rinsing with salt water (half a teaspoon of salt mixed with a glass of warm or cold water) can help relieve discomfort by dislodging any trapped food particles and reducing localized inflammation. If your toothache persists, consider using an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Additionally, numbing topical gels or pastes may assist alleviate pain, particularly if the toothache is caused by an exposed nerve.
Swelling
If your cheeks, jaw, or gums enlarge when you have a toothache, you should see a dentist. Swelling usually indicates that a dental abscess—a pocket or "blister" of pus—is growing around the tooth or that the tooth is infected. Pain and swelling that are difficult to ignore might be caused by an infection that spreads to the bone and tissue surrounding the tooth.
If you have a fever, it is very important to get care as quickly as possible at an emergency hospital or dentist. If you do not get treatment for the infection right once, it may lead to sepsis or other serious health problems. Fever and edema indicate that the illness is spreading throughout your body.
Tooth pain is never natural and usually means that a cavity, infected root, or cracked tooth has to be fixed. Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing often, and scheduling regular dentist checkups are the most effective measures to avoid tooth discomfort.
Ear discomfort.
A toothache can send pain signals to other parts of the head, neck, and mouth. As a result, a toothache that resembles an earache is exceedingly serious and should not be ignored. This symptom implies the existence of an infection or abscess, as well as damage to your mouth.
The cerebral connections that give sensation to your teeth flow through your ears. This means that referred pain may develop from a toothache, much as back pain can radiate to the arms or legs. This pounding sensation in the ears is unusual and may indicate an infection that has to be treated immediately owing to a dying nerve or another dental condition. The only way to find out is to visit the dentist and have the condition examined. By doing so, you will prevent it from worsening and thus jeopardising your overall health. Regular dental cleanings can reduce your chance of acquiring dental problems and difficulties.
Fever
The majority of toothaches are caused by minor illnesses that pose no significant damage to your overall health. However, an infection can become dangerous or even fatal if it spreads from the mouth to other parts of the body. If you notice that the pain is spreading to your neck, jaw, cheek, or ear, schedule an emergency visit with your dentist right once.
A persistent toothache after eating indicates a problem. It might be an impacted tooth that requires immediate extraction, a cavity, or a broken filling. Delaying your dental appointment can just exacerbate the problem and may lead to a far more catastrophic situation.
When tooth pain is coupled with a fever and chills, there may be major dental issues that need to be addressed right away. This kind of infection has the potential to damage the brain and enter the bloodstream. Ludwig's angina is a potentially fatal illness that can develop if left untreated and calls for emergency medical intervention.