Never Neglect a Toothache

As any dentist will tell you…toothaches are serious and should be taken care of by a dentist immediately. The truth of this statement is backed up by what happened recently to a man who nearly died from complications connected to his painful toothache…

Daniel Murtagh, 29, suffered months of weight loss, exhaustion and body aches – which doctors believed was HIV. But blood tests revealed a super-bug had traveled around his body and eaten away at a valve in his heart. Medics discovered the infection had come from bacteria on a mildly-inflamed wisdom tooth that was causing him slight pain. Doctors immediately pulled it out before performing a seven-hour operation on his heart to give him a prosthetic valve. But Mr Murtagh was told that if he had left his condition another week he would probably have died.

As this incident makes clear, it is so important to take care of your teeth, keep them clean, see your dentist for cleanings and X-rays…and always see your dentist if you have any discomfort at all – even if you think its minor.

The moral of this story is that tooth pain ALWAYS indicates something needs attention. You do not want something in your mouth to cause a major infection in your body that could lead to significant problems, even death. So, if you are experiencing a toothache or any other type of dental emergency, call a Charlotte dentist right away.

What You Should Do If You Have A Toothache?

If you wake up with a dull, throbbing pain in your mouth, you are suffering from a toothache. While some toothaches go away as mysteriously as they arrived, the majority do not. In most cases, the pain is an indication that there is something seriously wrong with your teeth or gums.

The most important thing to do is to call our office and make an appointment to see the dentist. We will do our best to get you in as quickly as possible. We know how painful a toothache can be, and the sooner that you receive treatment, the sooner you will stop hurting.

However, in the interval between your phone call and your appointment, there are some things that you can do to give yourself some relief from the pain. Taking an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help take the edge off the pain. Be sure not to exceed the recommended dosage on the bottle, however.

Applying an ice pack to the affected area can also help to soothe the pain. Others may find that heat actually is more helpful. Using a hot compress on the painful area can help you find some relief from your discomfort.

Gels containing benzocaine or a similar topical anesthetic are also available over the counter. Applying a small amount of this medication to the gum near the painful tooth can numb the area for some time. This is the same medication that we use in our office before we inject the novocaine.

Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or diluted hydrogen peroxide may also help provide some temporary toothache relief. However, the most important thing to do when you have a toothache is to call our office right away so that we can examine you and provide a permanent solution.

Why Do Toothaches Need Immediate Dental Treatment?

There’s almost nothing worse than having a severe toothache. The pain can be unbearable. However, regardless how painful it could be, a tooth ache can also be a symptom of a larger problem. Should it be left unattended, it may lead to a much more serious dental or health problem.

Emergency Toothache Treatment in Charlotte, NC

Among the mot common reasons behind a toothache is cavities, but there could be numerous issues that could be inducing the pain. You may already have an abscess or infection which could make you lose the tooth or it potentially spread all through the rest of your body if it is not treated straight away.

In other words, don’t ignore tooth pain. It is essential to see a dentist immediately to actually have a proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent further problems.

Here’s the way a dentist can help with your tooth ache:

Your dentist will perform a comprehensive oral study of your teeth and mouth as a way to determine the main cause of your tooth ache. The dentist will look for warning signs of redness, swelling and any other tooth damage. X-rays will also be taken to see if there is any proof an impacted or crack tooth, teeth cavities or any other disorder. All of this information can help your dentist determine the appropriate treatment procedure.

Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics or pain medication to assist heal your toothache. Should your tooth be infected the dentist may need to extract the tooth or perform a root canal procedure to save the tooth.

In case you are experiencing a painful toothache, be sure to call an emergency dentist in Charlotte. And, as discussed above, it is essential to have the proper diagnosis and also have your tooth treated immediately.