Toothache

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Toothaches—no one wants them. But what do you do when you have a dreaded toothache? How did you get a toothache in the first place? How do you fix a toothache so you can still go about your daily routine with no pain or discomfort?

These are common questions that patients ask us at Washington Smiles.

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? Do you have a toothache? What causes toothaches?

There are so many reasons for what causes a toothache. However, the two most common causes are:

• a cavity
• an abscess

There are several other dental problems that can potentially mimic the feeling of a toothache, including:

If you have a toothache, call us immediately to get checked and properly diagnosed and treated.

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? What is a cavity? What is an abscess?

A cavity (also called caries) is a hole in the tooth, which is caused by tooth decay. Patients may feel sensitivity or discomfort when eating hot, cold, or sweet foods or beverages. This pain may go away quickly, too.

An abscessed tooth (also called periapical abscess) is actually an infection of the tissue inside of the tooth with a dead nerve. Oftentimes this occurs because a patient has not received treatment for a severe cavity.

When the fluid inside of the tooth builds up, the patient may feel intense pressure and pain. Also, since the tooth’s nerve is dead, the patient will not have sensitivity to cold things; however, the area will be sensitive to touch.

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Toothache treatment at Washington Smiles

If you have a cavity, an abscess, or a toothache, call our office to schedule your consultation appointment. It is important to schedule an appointment right away so that we can fix the problem before it gets worse. This allows us to save as much of the tooth structure as possible.

If a cavity or toothache is not fixed in a timely manner, a root canal or extraction may be needed.

But don’t worry—we will find the root cause of your toothache and fix the problem. The sooner you seek treatment for a toothache, the better off you’ll be.