My Tooth Hurts: Do I Need to See a Dentist?
A sore tooth can indicate a variety of issues, such as infection, gum disease, or something as minor as a piece of trapped food. While some issues can be resolved at home, other concerns may need your dentist to intervene. Explore when you should visit your dentist for tooth pain at Bethel Dental Clinic in Accra, Ghana, also serving Ayawaso.
Tooth Pain and Dental Concerns
Tooth pain can indicate a variety of oral health issues, such as tooth decay, an infection, gum disease, and more. When left untreated, this can result in the spread of infection or decay, tooth loss, or other concerns.
- Severe Pain - If you have severe pain, and do not respond to things such as over-the-counter pain medicine, it may be a sign of a more serious issue. To be safe, in instances of severe pain, it is best to see your dentist so they can examine you and ensure there is no infection or other issue that could be causing your pain.
- Pain Following Trauma - If you have experienced trauma to the face or mouth and you have pain that either won't go away or does not get better with ice or medications, you should contact your dentist. Often, they will perform an exam and, in some cases, take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
- Abscess - If you have pain and notice an obvious abscess, this is a good indication that you have an infection and may require a root canal treatment. Contact your dentist immediately, as the infection can spread and cause further damage.
- Tooth Decay - If you know you have tooth decay and it hasn't been fixed, pain in that area is a good indication that you may have an infection or the start of an infection.
- Persistent Pain - Even if the pain is minor, if it does not resolve within about 24 to 48 hours, it is best to have your dentist examine you to ensure it is nothing serious.
- Swelling - If the pain is accompanied by swelling in the mouth or face, it could indicate infection or other issues.
- Fever - If you develop a fever with the pain, this usually indicates an infection.
What Can I Do at Home for Non-Emergent Pain?
In some cases, tooth pain can be caused by something as minor as gum irritation or food debris lodged between the teeth or in the gums. If the pain is minor and there are no other troubling symptoms, here are a few things you can do to try to correct the issue and ease the pain:
- Clean your teeth - Brush and floss to ensure there is no trapped debris. You can also swish with warm water when you are done.
- Take medication - If you have cleaned your teeth and you still have a sore tooth or gums, you can take over the counter pain medication. Take it as directed and be sure to speak with a doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding this information.
Think You Need to See the Dentist?
If you are experiencing a sore tooth and think you may need to see a dentist, contact us today. Our dentists provide emergency dental appointments, often the same-day, to help ease your pain and protect your oral health.
