Take That Toothache Seriously

What any dentist wants you to know is that a toothache is the symptom of a severe underlying cause. The teeth are unique features of the body in that each tooth is a living feature. Each tooth has its own specific root system, nerves, and direct blood supply. When there is damage or infection present within a tooth, it is susceptible to dying and causing a whole host of severe oral issues.

What do the following have in common?

• A cavity
• A cracked tooth
• Gum recession
• An infected tooth
• An abscess
• A dying tooth

Answer: The first symptom of each is a toothache.

All of your teeth work together to support one another and the jaw bone, giving structure to your facial appearance. Ignoring pain in a single tooth can cause the death of that tooth to occur. When a tooth dies, it will either fall out or need to be removed by your dentist to prevent infection and decay from spreading to the neighboring teeth. But, the loss of just one tooth will compromise your entire mouth. The teeth must be fully intact to support each other and the jaw bone. When only one tooth is missing, the jaw bone will weaken, and the stability of the remaining teeth will be compromised.

From the list above, you can easily see that some causes of toothache are more serious than others. Yet, even a mild issue such as a dental cavity needs to be addressed by your dentist before it turns into a severe problem that causes you great pain and expense. It is crucial that you contact your dentist right away. Do not think that you can wait until your next dental appointment – unless that appointment is less than a week away. Infection and decay can develop and spread rapidly, so putting off an appointment will only cause you more trouble in the long run.

At Ora Dentistry, we want to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health. We proudly provide comprehensive dentistry services. If you have any type of toothache, please take it seriously and contact our practice for the next available appointment.