Chronic toothaches, tooth sensitivity, and oral pain create lasting discomfort. Tooth pain is a dental concern that makes speaking, biting, chewing, and other parts of your everyday life uncomfortable. At Coastal General Dentistry, we provide toothache treatment including root canals in Virginia Beach, VA. Here, we will review common causes of toothaches and the best treatments to relieve your tooth pain.
Common Causes of Toothaches in Virginia Beach, VA
There are multiple common reasons why you have tooth pain. The most common causes of toothaches can include:
Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that forms from a dental injury or cavity. Dental infections can create an abscess near the tooth root, often at the root’s tip or on the tooth root’s side.
You will know if the abscess ruptures when you feel a foul taste in your mouth. After the abscess ruptures, you will not feel as much pain. Because of this, you may think that you don’t need care. However, you must still visit the dentist to treat the abscess. Untreated tooth abscesses can lead to sepsis.
Cavity
A dental cavity is a hole in the tooth enamel. The tooth enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. When you develop a dental infection, harmful bacteria break down the natural tooth over time. As the infection progresses, harmful bacteria create a cavity.
A cavity exposes the dental pulp within the tooth. The dental pulp comprises cells, blood vessels, and nerves that keep the tooth alive. Tooth sensitivity can occur as the bacteria damage the pulp.
Dental Injury
Breaks in the tooth enamel can create tooth pain. You will initially feel tooth pain from your injury. If this injury is left untreated, you can experience sensitivity and discomfort. As with cavities, damage to teeth can allow harmful bacteria to enter the tooth. The damaged tooth can wear down further, leading to more pain.
Signs You Have a Toothache
Multiple symptoms can accompany tooth pain if you have a dental infection:
- Fever
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Tender lymph nodes
- Difficulty swallowing
As soon as you notice these symptoms and tooth pain, you need to contact a dentist. Toothaches worsen the longer they are left untreated.
How To Treat a Toothache in Virginia Beach, VA
If you have severe tooth pain, you will need emergency dental care. A dental emergency is a dental problem that is severe enough that it requires immediate treatment. When you visit our office for toothache treatment, we will recommend the right care for the cause of your pain. If you have an abscess, we will need to drain it. We will cut into the abscess and rinse the area with salt water.
Our office also provides dental fillings if you have a cavity. During this treamtent, we will remove the infected material within the tooth. Then, we will clean and disinfect the tooth. Finally, we fill the tooth with a metal or composite material.
We may recommend a root canal if a tooth has become infected. A root canal can help save the natural structure of your smile by avoiding the need for an extraction. Our endodontist, Dr. Quinn, will clean the inner pulp chamber of the tooth, remove the infection, and close the tooth. A root canal will relieve your pain almost immediately. In most cases, we will recommend the placement of a dental crown to strengthen the tooth and support long-term oral health.
Home Remedies for Toothaches
Before you visit the dentist, there are treatments you can use at home to minimize your tooth pain:
- Cold compress: Wrap a clean towel or cloth around an ice pack to reduce swelling. Then, place it on the side of your cheek, the same side as your affected tooth. Ice helps numb the nerves and reduce pain. Only apply a cold compress for ten to fifteen minutes at a time.
- Pain medication: Taking pain medication will help reduce discomfort before your visit. Over-the-counter NSAIDs can temporarily relieve tooth pain.
- Garlic: Chopped or crushed garlic has antibacterial properties. Applying garlic to a tooth can reduce inflammation and pain. Fresh garlic is preferable to powdered garlic because powdered garlic does not contain allicin. Allicin is a compound that helps protect the body against infections.
Toothache FAQs
Can a toothache cause a headache?
Yes. It is possible to experience a headache when you have a toothache. Pain in the tooth’s nerve may travel to different areas of the face.
How long does a toothache last?
The time that a toothache can last will depend on the cause of your toothache. Temporary sensitivity may last for hours or a couple of days. A toothache from a cavity, abscess, or tooth damage may last longer. The faster you receive treatment for a toothache, the shorter your toothache will last.
Why do I have throbbing tooth pain?
A dental infection is the most likely cause of a throbbing sensation and tooth pain. This heartbeat-like sensation can come and go and is often a sign of tooth decay. When you develop tooth decay, bacteria wear down the tooth enamel. Over time, harmful bacteria enter the tooth through a hole called a cavity. Bacteria affect the tooth’s nerves, leading to an increase in tooth sensitivity.
What should you avoid if you have a toothache?
If you have a toothache, you should not ignore your pain. Waiting to treat your tooth pain will only worsen the cause of your discomfort. Additionally, avoid sugary foods and drinks or hard and crunchy foods because they can worsen your pain.
What is a sinus toothache?
Sometimes, you may experience a toothache when you’re stuffed up or have a sinus infection. You may only feel pain in your upper teeth. This is because the tooth roots lie near the sinuses. Toothaches often accompany sinus problems.
Do you need to pull an abscessed tooth?
In some cases, a dentist may need to remove an abscessed tooth. A severely decayed tooth leads to increased tooth pain. The dentist may remove the tooth and treat the abscess to prevent the spread of infection.
Treat Dental Pain Today
Do you have chronic toothaches? Call Coastal General Dentistry for dental pain relief at 757-216-9914. You can also schedule a dental appointment at Coastal General Dentistry online. We’re here to help you find the best treatment to relieve your toothache in our Virginia Beach, VA, dental office.