How Do I Know If My Toothache Is Serious?

Toothaches have a knack for sucking the joy from your day; they can ruin a nice meal or treat and even disrupt your beauty sleep!

Occasional mouth pain may indicate that your teeth are sensitive to temperature changes. In most cases, this isn’t a cause for alarm.

An intense, throbbing pain that shoots through your tooth may indicate that you need to visit our emergency dentist near you for treatment.

But at times, the pain can be dull, consistent, and accompanied by other symptoms; it could indicate that you are developing a severe health issue.

What Are the Symptoms of a Tooth Infection Spreading?

People habitually pop painkillers and hope that they will be fine. This gamble sometimes pays off, especially when there is no infection or a severe underlying issue.

But popping painkillers could be delaying the inevitable. You should get the tooth checked out because there could be a chance that the infection is spreading.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, know that you need urgent dental care:

• You are not feeling well (experiencing headaches, fatigue, dizziness, etc.)
• You have a fever, chills, sweating, or skin flushing
• Your face is swollen (swelling that impedes swallowing and breathing or makes it difficult to open your mouth fully)
• You are dehydrated (frequency of urinating reduces, darker urine, confusion)
• Your breathing rate increases to over 25 breaths per minute
• Your heart rate increases (you feel lightheaded, and there is a rapid pulse rate)
• You experience stomach problems such as diarrhea and vomiting

What Are the Signs That Your Toothache Is Becoming Severe?

Not all toothaches warrant you to seek urgent dental care.

However, you need to know when it is appropriate for you to seek dental care and when the issue is mild and doesn’t need professional care.

Here is what you need to peel your eyes for:

It Hurts When You Are Chewing

You are not meant to feel pain when you are chewing food. But if there is stubbing or sharp pain when you chew, there is a chance that your tooth is cracked. The pain emanates from the exposed roots.

It could also mean that your enamel is worn down, so that’s why there is that zing when your teeth are exposed to extreme temperatures or when you bite down.

If the tooth is cracked, it can lead to a severe infection since bacteria will have a perfect breeding ground in the inner parts of the tooth.

Intense Throbbing Pain

If you experience intense throbbing pain irrespective of whether you are eating or not, then there is a chance that your tooth is infected.

The tooth’s outer part protects the softer inner parts (pulp). If the infection is left untreated, it could easily spread to other body parts.

You Feel Pressure

If you are experiencing tooth pain that is accompanied by pressure, then there is a chance that your wisdom teeth are not okay.

You might need an x-ray to determine whether the tooth should be removed because it can cause other issues if it isn’t taken out.

You Have a Swollen Neck or Jaw

At times, tooth pain can accompany a swollen neck or jaw. If this is the case, then you might be an indicator that you have a dental abscess.

Whenever you have a pus-filled pocket at your gums, this is what is referred to as a tooth or dental abscess.

When your neck or jaw is swollen, the infection has spread, and you need immediate dental care.

Why Does Tooth Pain Hurt Worse at Night?

If you’ve had tooth pain, you know that it worsens at night. Your nerves get overstimulated and keep your brain hyperactive, making it difficult to sleep.

Some of the reasons for increased tooth pain at night are:

• Your Sleeping Position

When you place your head on the bed to sleep, blood flow to your brain will increase. The increased blood flow will intensify the pain since, during the day, you spend more time sitting or standing.

• Brushing Your Teeth at Night

Brushing is a good habit since it keeps the teeth clean. But in so doing, you could easily irritate the affected area, which could cause the pain to worsen.

• Jaw Clenching

Under intense pressure, you could clench or grind your teeth, leading to immense pain at night. Another scenario is clenching your jaws while asleep, which could cause immense pain.

• The Brain Has Fewer Distractions

At night, there are fewer distractions, and our minds are more aware of the sensations running throughout the body.

If you realize that your toothache has lasted more than two days, contact us at Lawn Dental Center; we would love to help.