Toothaches can keep you from being able to concentrate on daily tasks, and they make it hard to eat. But what causes them, and what can you do to stop them?
If you have a toothache, first rinse the mouth out with warm water. Then, gently use floss or another interdental cleaner to remove any food particles stuck between the teeth. If the pain persists, call your dentist. DO NOT apply aspirin to the pained area, as that may burn your gum tissue.
Toothaches typically mean you have a cavity, also called tooth decay. A cavity is the decay of the hard outer layer of your tooth. In more rare cases, a toothache could indicate an abscessed or impacted tooth.
Cavities happen when the enamel of the tooth—the hard, protective casing that surrounds the softer inner tissue–deteriorates. This can be a problem for children, teens, or adults. Cavities are more common in children, but changes in the mouth allow tooth decay to happen to adults also. An abscessed tooth has infection inside the soft tissue, which can lead to pulp death and serious damage to the surrounding tissues. An impacted tooth is one that remains stuck in gum tissue or bone, for various reasons. Any of these emergencies can cause a toothache.
The best way to help a toothache is to prevent it in the first place. Brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing once a day, and scheduling regular dentist appointments can help prevent cavities and other toothache-inducing dental emergencies. The sooner your dentist can address the issue, the better! Your dentist will be a great help in the care and prevention of cavities and other tooth damage.
The faster your dentist can diagnose the issue, the more likely the tooth can be saved. So if you have a toothache, call Great Lakes Family Dental at 517.787.0550 immediately!
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