If you’ve recently developed a toothache, it’s natural to wonder whether or not you need to make a dental appointment right away. There are several potential causes behind tender teeth, after all, and some are more urgent than others.
But what if you’ve called your dentist to schedule a visit and then realized the throbbing subsided? Is it still necessary to see your dentist if your troublesome tooth suddenly stops hurting? Continue reading to learn why you should keep your appointment on the books!
What Causes Toothaches?
Your teeth might feel tender for a myriad of reasons, like a piece of food that’s gotten stuck between them, thinning enamel from brushing aggressively, or oversensitive gum tissue, for instance. If you’ve tried flossing to remove any unwanted objects with no luck, your discomfort could be due to:
- Gum disease.
- A damaged filling.
- Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding.
- A chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth.
- An abscess or infection in the jawbone.
- Cavities.
- A new tooth trying to erupt through your gumline.
Only your dentist has the experience and equipment needed to help identify and address the underlying cause.
Why Did My Toothache Disappear?
Many patients incorrectly assume that if their pain dissipates that the problem must have resolved itself. Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case. Dental issues typically only get worse, and a miraculously vanishing toothache could point to progressively worsening breaks or decay.
Although they’re incredibly hard and resilient externally, the insides of your teeth contain soft pulp tissue and nerves susceptible to infection. If your tooth is injured or the restoration protecting it is damaged or loose, bacteria from your mouth can penetrate and infect these tender materials. The associated swelling and pus buildup cause aches and inflammation. Over time, this can eventually kill the nerves inside your tooth so you can no longer sense pain.
How Will My Dentist Treat My Tooth?
If you’ve experienced this sudden change in your condition, you should call your dentist immediately. Sometimes, an emergency root canal can remove the harmful materials and restore your tooth’s appearance and functionality. This involves numbing and/or sedating you before creating a small opening in your pearly white. Then, the infection is cleared out and your tooth is sanitized before being sealed shut. Finally, your dentist provides a dental crown to cap it so no one can tell there was an issue.
However, if the damage has progressed so far that your troublesome tooth can’t be treated effectively, your provider might recommend extracting and replacing it to preserve your oral health.
If you’ve had a toothache that suddenly ceased, it’s best to contact your dentist as soon as possible!
About the Practice
At Sunrise Dental Center, you and your family benefit from a team of dentists who have been helping families build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles for more than 35 years. They work together to provide a full array of services to meet all your needs under one roof. They combine a compassionate and caring approach with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient comfort while delivering accurate results. Plus, they offer same-day emergency appointments and sedatives so that if you have a toothache, you don’t have to wait for relief. You can request an appointment on the website or call (713) 869-9973.
