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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Two Causes Of Serious Tooth Pain

by April Myers

Not too many pains affect you so globally as tooth pain. When it is severe, you can feel it throughout your body. You may search for home remedies to alleviate your toothache, but throbbing severe pain, or pain that does not go away, may need the services of an emergency dentist. Here are a few possible causes that may need to be addressed with a same-day appointment.

1. Abscessed Tooth 

An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus indicating a bacterial infection around your tooth. These are two different types of abscesses. These are as follows:

  • Periapical—An abscess that forms at the root of your tooth
  • Periodontal—An abscess that forms on either side of your tooth

Both can result from untreated cavities, dental injuries, or prior dental work. You will need an emergency dentist to drain and treat the abscess to eliminate the infection. If you fail to treat an abscessed tooth, the condition can enter your bloodstream and cause serious, life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of an abscessed tooth include the following:

  • Severe, constant, throbbing tooth pain that may spread throughout your jaw, down your neck, or into your ear canal
  • Temperature sensitivity
  • Tooth pain when chewing or biting
  • Fever
  • Swelling of your face or jaw
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Foul-smelling or foul-tasting fluid in your mouth

If you suspect you have a tooth abscess but cannot reach an emergency dentist, go to the emergency room. This step is especially vital if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing.

2. Fractured Tooth

A cracked or fractured tooth can also be the cause of tooth pain. These cracks or fractures often go unnoticed and are small or harmless. Unfortunately, even minor fractures can grow over time, causing your tooth to break or split. 

Various things can cause tooth fractures. Some of these include the following:

  • Age
  • Using your teeth as tools
  • Biting down on hard foods
  • Ice chewing
  • Teeth grinding
  • Dental trauma
  • Previous dental work

Your tooth can fracture in either the crown or portion of the tooth above your gum or the root, the part below your gum. The crack may affect some or all the various layers of your tooth. Tooth pain often indicates damage involving your tooth's pulp, the inner layer of tissue containing the blood vessels or nerves. 

Fractures can cause the following symptoms:

  • Pain while chewing
  • Temperature sensitivity
  • Swelling around your tooth

If you suspect you have a fracture, seek the services of an emergency dentist.

Contact a local emergency dentist to learn more. 

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