Blog

That aching throbbing sensation around your tooth comes on at the most inconvenient time. Although there’s never a good time for getting a toothache, finding the time to get it checked out is often challenging. So often, it’s tempting to see whether the ache goes away on its own. 

Toothache isn’t something that you should ignore. While it might only feel like mild sensitivity while you’re eating or drinking anything hot or cold today, the pain could worsen before you know it. So, what happens if you ignore pains in your teeth and gums?

Here are five important reasons why you shouldn’t ignore toothache. 

1. You May Have a Cavity

Toothache doesn’t happen without reason. One of the most common reasons for developing toothache is that you have a cavity forming. Cavities are holes in your teeth caused by decay. 

When the bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars in your food and drink they produce acid. This acid gradually works its way through the enamel on your teeth until a hole appears. 

Cavities need filling before bacteria enters your tooth and causes infection. Getting a filling is a short and simple procedure. 

2. Your Tooth Might Have a Crack

If you’ve cracked or chipped a tooth due to physical trauma or because you’ve bitten something hard, you may experience toothache. 

Chips and cracks are potential entrypoints for bacteria, which could again cause infection. We can repair chips and cracks easily using a treatment called composite bonding. 

3. You May Have a Broken Filling

If you’ve previously had a tooth filled and you’re experiencing pain in that same area again, there’s a strong possibility your filling has broken or fallen out. This could be caused by the age of the filling or you may have knocked it out if you’ve been injured. 

Fillings are easily replaced. Repairing the damage to your tooth is quick, and can save potential problems later. 

4. You May Have Gum Disease

Pain and swelling around your gums along with bleeding whenever you brush is a sign of gum disease. Just like tooth decay, gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. 

There are two types of gum disease. Gingivitis is the milder form; however, this can develop into periodontitis which has serious complications. Periodontitis can lead to soft tissue damage, the loss of teeth, and damage to your jaw bone. 

If you have pain caused by gum disease, it’s best to see us for a checkup and we’ll help prevent it from worsening. 

5. Dental Pain Will Always Get Worse

Ignoring dental pain is never a good plan. An untreated cavity will lead to an infection. You might need a filling right now, but by leaving the problem, you’ll eventually need a root canal treatment. 

In cases where dental infections are left untreaded it’s common for patients to lose teeth, develop abcesses, or have futher complications that harm their gums and jaw before spreading to other parts of the body.

By booking in to see us for a checkup when you first experience toothace, you’ll avoid the problem getting worse. Often the easiest way to deal with a problem is to tackle them early. 

Book an Appointment at NuDental

Don’t let tooth decay or gum disease ruin your smile. We’d like to help you overcome your toothache sooner, rather than later. 

Call us today to book your appointment.