My teeth hurt. Should I go to the dentist?

What are the causes of dental pain?

The pain associated with a toothache can be quite painful. You should contact your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing this dental emergency.

Along with pain in and around the tooth, there are other signs of a dental emergency. These include:

• Foul taste in your mouth or bad breath
• Fever
• Swelling around the tooth
• Facial swelling
• Bleeding in your mouth

Some of the causes of dental pain:

• Trauma to the tooth or surrounding tissue
• Abscessed tooth
• Infected nerve
• Damaged dental work
• Infections in the mouth
• Tooth decay
• Teeth grinding

What to Do if You Are Experiencing Tooth Pain

If you are experiencing bleeding along with tooth pain then you should use a pad f gauze to soak up the blood. If the tooth (or a piece of a tooth) has been knocked out, try to locate it. Once found, dust off any debris (do not rinse with water).

If you do find the missing tooth then you should brush off any debris, without touching the root, and push it firmly back into the socket and bite down. If you’re not able to push the tooth back into the socket, add some milk to a lidded container and place the tooth inside. This may help preserve the tooth and make it more likely that your dentist will be able to replace it.

If you are experiencing swelling or pain, try taking over-the-counter painkillers (while carefully following the instructions on the bottle for the recommended dose) and applying an ice pack to the area.

Your next step should be to contact a dentist and request an appointment to have the issue diagnosed and make a plan for treatment. Note that most dental pain will not stop on its own, and attempting to diagnose or treat the issue yourself could lead to serious issues long-term.

Depending on the cause of the pain, our dentists at Ivory Dental in Lethbridge may either tell you that you should come to our office right away for treatment, or make an appointment to see you as soon as possible.

Bookmark our website or search “dentist near me” in your favourite search engine and we will likely pop up.

If you have experienced trauma to the tooth that has caused a fracture or breakage, or if you are in severe pain that you are unable to manage yourself, call our office as soon as you are comfortable and safe. We will try to fit you into our schedule at a time when we can diagnose and make a treatment plan.

If your case is less severe, here are some other things you can do to manage your discomfort until your appointment time:

• Rinse your mouth using salt water
• Record your pain
• Keep your teeth clean
• If the tooth is broken, apply a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth

If you are concerned that you may be experiencing a dental emergency. Contact our Lethbridge dentists to request an appointment.