Dental Pain Relief
See your dentist to determine actual cause of tooth pain or sensitivity. One visit can save you from Extensive dental procedure.
Generally speaking, pain is a protective response that ranges from minor sensitivity to severe pain and informs the body that something is wrong. As for tooth pain, it is caused by a reaction of the nerves inside a tooth’s pulp chamber with the severity dependent upon the type and degree of the stimulus. What follows are some examples of symptoms you may be feeling and their possible causes.
Symptom: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and liquids.
What to do: If a root surface is sensitive, keep it clean and free of dental bacterial plaque. Use a soft toothbrush, cleaning very gently at the gum line, and brush no more than twice daily. Try using fluoride-containing toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. You can even try using toothpaste like an ointment, rubbing it into the root surface for minute or so at a time. See your dentist to determine actual cause of tooth pain or sensitivity.
Symptom: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment.
This sensitivity should last no longer then a few days; however, if decay has recently been removed or a filling or crown recently has been placed, a tooth may take a week or two to settle. Mild pain relievers like acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen should help. If the pain persists or worsens, see your dentist.
Symptom: Sharp pain when biting down on food.
See a dentist to diagnose the problem before the pain worsens. Decay will need to be removed, and a loose filling replaced by your dentist. If the pain is caused by pulp tissue damage, you might need a root canal treatment to clean out the damaged pulp, disinfect the root canal and fill and seal the remaining space to save the tooth. A cracked tooth may be difficult to treat not only if it involves the pulp, but also depending on the location and depth of the crack. ”)
Symptom: Sharp pain when biting down on food.
See your dentist to diagnose the problem before the pain becomes severe due to the development of an abscess. The tooth will likely need root canal treatment to remove the dying or dead pulp tissue to save the tooth.
Symptom: Dull ache and pressure in the upper teeth and sinus area of one or both sides.
Pain felt in the sinus area of the face is often associated with the upper back teeth because they share the same nerves. The origin of this “referred” pain consequently may be difficult to determine. Therefore, sinus pain can feel like tooth pain and vice versa. That’s why sinus congestion from a cold or flu can cause pain in the upper teeth. Additionally it’s also important to determine if clenching or grinding is a factor, as they too cause similar symptoms.See your dentist to find out if the symptoms are dentally related; otherwise, you may need to see your family physician. However, don’t wait until the pain worsens.
Symptom: Acute and constant pain from an area, but difficult to say exactly which tooth is causing the problem.
The pulp tissue inside a tooth is acutely infected, inflamed and dying. This is generally in response to decay coming very close to or entering the nerve. See your dentist immediately for a thorough examination. Once the problematic tooth is isolated, a root canal treatment to remove the infected pulp tissue will bring relief while saving the tooth. Untreated, the pain could become worse.
Symptom: Constant severe pain and pressure, swelling of the gum and sensitivity to touch.
A tooth may have an infection/abscess that has spread from the pulp into the surrounding periodontal tissues and bone.
See your dentist immediately. A root canal will probably be required. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen will help minimize symptoms until you are treated.
Don’t wait for the pain to get worse.
Note in the above examples, possible problems and solutions are suggested — but they only provide possible guidelines. In all cases of tooth or jaw pain or discomfort in and around the teeth and jaws, see your dentist as soon as possible for a proper evaluation and treatment. And if your pain has a medical component, your dentist will refer you to a physician.
For appointments and inquiries about our veneers, Invisalign, dental implants, and other general and pediatric dentistry services, simply call 571-210-4747. http://cosmosmilesdental.com/arlington-virginia/ and https://www.facebook.com/cosmosmiles/
