Consulting a General Dentist About Toothaches

While toothaches can make eating or even your daily routine unpleasant, a general dentist has various solutions to ease this pain. If the painful tooth is decayed, they can restore it to stop the ache. They can also help ease pain in otherwise healthy teeth through medicine and improved oral hygiene practices. Thus, whether the pain is dull, sharp, intermittent, or persistent, a general dentist can help.

What is considered a toothache?

The term toothache covers a wide variety of aches and pains that can affect any tooth. As per WebMD, a toothache may be a:

• Dull, constant ache
• Sharp, sudden ache
• Throbbing ache

Many patients experience toothaches in relation to tooth sensitivity. These types of toothaches are temporary and typically brought on by eating and drinking, especially if the food or drink is too hot or cold. A general dentist can treat all types of toothaches.

Common causes of toothaches

Tooth decay, or cavities, is one of the most common causes of toothaches. It can damage the tooth's structure, causing pain even when the patient is not using said tooth. When decay reaches the tooth root, it can become infected, causing a dental abscess.

Additionally, cracks and chips in the tooth's outer layer (enamel) can cause tooth pain. This may occur due to a fall or a condition like bruxism (tooth grinding), which can erode the enamel. Similarly, enamel erosion may cause toothaches in patients with sensitive teeth. Exposed tooth roots could be to blame, as well.

Toothache treatments from a general dentist

If a toothache is causing persistent or recurring pain and discomfort, consult a general dentist as soon as possible. However, if the pain is mild, such as only occurring after drinking an ice-cold beverage, it may be okay to wait until the next six-month checkup — given that it is not several months away. In general, it is always better to have a general dentist evaluate a problem like a toothache in its earliest stages to prevent it from progressing into a larger, more painful, and more costly issue.

During the appointment, the general dentist will isolate the cause of the toothache through an oral examination. If a dental abscess or gum disease is suspected, they may take dental X-rays to better look at the teeth' roots and jawbones. Then, they will likely recommend common toothache treatments, such as the following:

Adjustments to at-home oral hygiene

If the issue is merely enamel erosion or receding gums, the general dentist will likely recommend toothpaste, toothbrushes, and antibacterial mouthwashes designed for sensitive teeth. They can also discuss how to floss and brush properly to prevent these issues from worsening.

Medicine

A general dentist may recommend using pain medication to relieve toothaches. They can prescribe these medications and recommend over-the-counter options. If gum disease is causing a toothache, it may be necessary to treat it with antibiotics.

Restorative dental treatments

When tooth decay is the culprit, the general dentist will address it with a dental filling, inlay, onlay, or crown. If the decay is severe, such as in a dental abscess, root canal therapy will be needed to restore it.