When Is a Toothache Serious Enough to Go to the Dentist?

It is pretty much safe to say that you have experienced some kind of tooth pain at some point in your life. Apart from being quite painful, tooth pain is one of the most annoying things that can happen to you. The reason why is because when you have a toothache, not only can you not eat normally, but you can't drink and sleep normally either.

Regardless of what type of tooth pain you are dealing with, one thing is for sure: if it persists, you simply have to do something to eliminate it. Although many types of tooth pain don't require you to visit the dentist, there are some cases where you do need to make an appointment in order to continue living a normal life. But how can you possibly know when a visit to the specialist is necessary?

You Regularly Experience Dental Pain

For most people, it is completely okay to visit the dentist only one or two times per year. However, people with a high risk of some kind of tooth pain need to visit the dentist much more often than that—more specifically, every three or four months, and in some cases, even more often than that. To make it more simple, if you usually experience a tooth pain that doesn't last longer than two days, there is absolutely no need to go to the specialist.

Basically, if you are dealing with only a mild toothache, there is absolutely no reason to panic, because it could just be a sign of cavity, and even though cavity is nothing to leave sitting for years, it is not a dental emergency either. You can use ice or some kind of pain relieving gel to treat this kind of toothache until your next checkup.

Swollen Gums

If you notice that your gums are much larger than they should normally be, the best thing to do would be to visit a specialist and tell them about your problem. One of the well-known causes of this condition is a hard-bristle toothbrush, so make sure to use a soft-bristle one instead. It could help you avoid this condition completely.

Severe Pain

If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, then you should definitely see your dentist. It could be much more serious than you think, such as a dental abscess. So, make sure to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

In the case of a severe tooth problem, the best solution may be a root canal to fully remove the infected tooth pulp. Follow up with your dentist about options, and don't wait too long. 

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