Does A Toothache Mean I Need Treatment?

When you have pain in a tooth that doesn’t pass after a day or two, this could mean the potential for issues like tooth decay or even dental infection. Ignoring your toothache could eventually lead to factors that cause tooth loss! In today’s blog, your Houston, TX, dentist talks about what causes toothaches and how we can help.

The Possible Causes of an Aching Tooth

What causes a tooth to hurt? For some, temporary aches could be due to sinus and allergy issues, changes in elevation, or even illness. But these only last a few hours and pass quickly. If you have pain in a tooth that lasts for more than a day or two, this could mean the presence of tooth decay. A cavity forms when poor oral hygiene, plaque buildup, and lack of professional cleanings weakens the enamel and allows harmful oral bacteria to reach the inner sensitive layers of diet, causing decay. The cavity spreads with time and eventually, your tooth begins to hurt. At this stage, you need care quickly to avoid the onset of a dental infection.

Your Dental Examination

When you arrive, we will talk to you about your oral health habits and your concerns about your aching tooth. We then carefully examine the smile with digital x-rays and intraoral camera technology, so we can identify the presence of decay and assess the severity too. We then plan treatment to bring you relief.

Treatment Options and Prevention

For cases of tooth decay, we will likely treat the concern in one visit with a dental filling. Instead of metal, we use composite resin, which is metal-free, comfortable, and able to be color matched to blend with your smile. If you have severe decay, we could place a crown. If the tooth has developed an infection, we can conduct a root canal to remove the infected tissues and then cap the tooth with a durable and lifelike crown. If the cavity is a result of an injury or teeth grinding, we can also repair the tooth with a restoration and treat underlying factors too.

To lower your risk of cavities and toothaches, we suggest brushing and flossing daily, and cutting back on sugar and starch in your diet. This helps limit the severity of plaque and tartar buildup until we can remove these layers with a cleaning, keeping your smile strong and healthy for years to come.

Talk to Our Team Today!

Our team is ready to uncover the source of your discomfort and provide a solution with lifelike results. To schedule your appointment, call MMC Dental in Houston, TX, at (713) 926-8896. Don’t ignore issues like aching teeth or sore, bleeding gums, let us know right away so we can offer a diagnosis and treatment to protect your oral health.