{"id":79,"date":"2021-09-27T14:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T14:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willowrundental.net\/blog\/?p=79"},"modified":"2021-10-27T15:01:40","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T15:01:40","slug":"tooth-pain-dental-emergency-true-or-false","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.willowrundental.net\/blog\/2021\/09\/27\/tooth-pain-dental-emergency-true-or-false\/","title":{"rendered":"True or False: Tooth Pain Is a Dental Emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tooth pain is a common symptom. Many people dismiss it as a mere annoyance until it becomes so severe that it is impossible to ignore. But is a toothache actually a dental emergency<\/a> that requires immediate<\/em> attention? In many cases, yes. This blog post discusses why you should seek treatment as soon as possible for tooth pain and shares some tips for minimizing damage to your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A Toothache Can Signal a Serious Problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A toothache occurs when something irritates the nerve inside a tooth. That \u201csomething\u201d could be any number of factors, a few of which are not a big deal. For example, sinus pressure may cause your teeth to ache, and that is usually not a cause for major concern. Thin tooth enamel can also cause intermittent discomfort. In many cases, however, a toothache signals a much more significant issue \u2014 one that requires prompt professional care. You may have a cavity, infection, or otherwise significantly damaged tooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What If You Do Not Seek Treatment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that teeth are the only part of the human body that cannot self-heal? Therefore, ignoring signs of decay, infection, or damage will not make the problem go away. Rather, delays allow the issue to get worse. For example, what begins as a small cavity could easily become so deep and large that you suffer from excruciating pain. What could have been fixed with something as simple as a basic filling can now call for the need for root canal therapy or an extraction. Such procedures tend to cost much more than basic fillings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting off treatment might even endanger your overall health. An infection in a tooth can spread throughout the body and might cause you to become seriously ill. A few people have even died from untreated tooth infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Handle a Toothache<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As soon as you begin to experience tooth pain, call your dentist. Describe your pain, and they will give you guidance on your next steps. They may urge you to schedule an emergency appointment. In the meantime, there might be some things you can do to minimize your pain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n