Understanding Tooth Pain and When You Need to See a Dentist
Hello, my name is Dr. Harbpinder Shevchenko from Smiles by the Sea Family Dentistry, and I'm here to answer some of the questions about tooth pain.
How can I stop tooth pain?
If you are experiencing dental pain, there are a few things you can do. First of all, identify where the pain is coming from. You can take some over-the-counter medication and see if that helps, but you should see your dentist. If you don't have a dentist, look one up, call someone, call a dentist near you, make an appointment, and get checked.
There's most likely a source for the pain. Even though over-the-counter pain medication might help alleviate it, it will most likely be a temporary fix. We definitely want to ensure you're doing a permanent fix to the pain so it does not get exaggerated over time or become worse. Find a dentist if you don't have one. If you have a dentist, give them a call, get evaluated, find out why the pain is occurring, and determine the solution to fix it.
What is the longest-lasting solution for tooth pain?
The longest-lasting solution for handling dental pain is to find out what is causing the pain and the source of the pain first, then get appropriate treatment. Make sure you're addressing the root cause of the pain. Identifying where the pain is coming from and handling it with the appropriate treatment will be the most permanent and lasting solution. Ensure the treatment is done, and it's all handled, so it won't become a problem later on for you.
What are the most common dental reasons for pain and how can a dentist help me?
One question I often encounter is what are the common reasons for dental pain and how a dentist can help alleviate it. There could be multiple reasons for the pain. It could come from the gums due to an infection in the whole mouth or a localized infection, meaning an infection set in a single tooth or multiple teeth around that gum area. The pain could be from a large cavity that has reached the nerve of the tooth, causing pain.
Other reasons could involve an infection with the nerve of the tooth. Identifying the cause after your dentist evaluates you and provides appropriate treatment is essential. For example, if you have gum disease, known as periodontitis, your dentist will recommend treatment based on the severity of the disease. You should get that treatment done so your pain goes away.
If it's a big cavity that has reached the nerve, you will receive a treatment recommendation to alleviate it. Make sure you address that. If there's an infection with the tooth, the dentist will recommend what needs to be done, and you should follow that advice to ensure your pain is handled.
Another reason for dental pain could be wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth try to emerge or erupt in your mouth, that could also cause dental pain. Some people can experience TMJ pain as well. These are some of the main causes of pain, and again, you should get it checked by your dentist to find the source of the pain and receive the recommended treatment to become pain-free.
What are some common nondental reasons for tooth pain?
Another question I often get is what are some non-dental reasons for pain in the mouth or teeth. Some reasons could include nerve pain or neuralgia, as there are many nerves in our mouth and face. These nerves ultimately innervate or feed your teeth. Sometimes it's not a problem with the tooth itself, but it's mirrored as tooth pain, actually stemming from neuralgia.
One common example is trigeminal neuralgia, which is a nerve running on the side of our face and also feeding our teeth. Some patients can experience very excruciating pain from this. You should get it checked by your dentist, who will ask questions and perform tests to differentiate whether it's true dental pain or nerve-related.
Another cause could be patients undergoing cancer treatments or chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as they sometimes experience dental pain. The main thing is to get it evaluated as soon as possible to find the correct cause of the pain and receive appropriate treatment.
Is it normal to experience tooth pain after some dental procedures?
Yes, depending on the extent of the procedure, whether it was surgical or involved nerve treatment, you could temporarily experience some tooth pain afterward. Your dentist will explain this to you, letting you know what to expect and for how long. They will guide you through what can be done and may prescribe medications.
There are some dental procedures after which you could experience dental pain. For instance, if you had surgery in your mouth or nerve treatment, or any extensive work done, you might have some pain or discomfort, possibly in the gums. When you're getting the procedure done, your dentist will explain the type of pain you can expect and for how long. They will also give recommendations, possibly prescribing anti-inflammatory or other medications to help manage the pain.
I hope I was able to answer some of your questions regarding dental pain. If you still have any more questions, please feel free to reach us at (603) 634-9445, or schedule below!