What to Do About a Toothache
A toothache rarely picks a convenient time. Here is what usually causes one, how to manage the pain until your visit, and how to lower the odds of the next one.
Toothaches have a way of showing up on a Friday evening or right before a trip. Whenever it starts, tooth pain is your body flagging a problem that deserves attention.
What Usually Causes a Toothache
Decay is the most frequent cause, but it is far from the only one. Pain can also come from:
- Inflammation or infection of the pulp inside the tooth
- An abscess at the root or in the gums
- Gum disease
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- An impacted tooth pressing on bone or a neighboring tooth
- Sensitive, exposed roots
- Sinus congestion or infection, which can feel like upper tooth pain
Easing the Pain Until Your Visit
If you cannot be seen right away, these steps can take the edge off:
- Hold a cold compress against your cheek near the sore area
- Rinse gently with warm salt water
- Use an over-the-counter numbing gel made for tooth pain
- Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory if it is safe for you, following the label
These are temporary measures. They calm symptoms but do not treat the cause. Swelling in your face or jaw, fever, or trouble swallowing needs prompt care.
Lowering the Odds of the Next One
Not every toothache is preventable, but many are. Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, and keeping up with checkups let us catch small problems before they become painful ones.
Do Not Wait It Out
The sooner we find the cause, the simpler the fix tends to be. We offer emergency dental care in Leesburg and do our best to see patients in pain the same day. Contact us to get in.