Dealing with a toothache? Here’s what to do about it.
Nothing is worse than dealing with a toothache. It feels like the whole world stops the moment you notice that deep, throbbing pain. When this happens, it’s important to know where to turn. Our dentist Dr. David Dane and his team can handle all of your dental emergencies right here at his East Midtown, Manhattan practice. When you’re dealing with a toothache nothing is more important than getting immediate dental care from a qualified dental professional who knows what to do.
What’s causing my toothache?
There are many issues that could be to blame for your toothache. A toothache could be a sign of,
- Decay
- Gum disease
- An inflamed or infected dental pulp
- An abscess
- Trauma or injury
- An impacted tooth (common with wisdom teeth)
Why do I need to see a dentist?
As you can see from the list above, a toothache is only a symptom of an underlying problem and it’s important to get to the bottom of the problem so that you don’t put your oral health in jeopardy. As our Manhattan, NY, emergency dentist can tell you, issues such as an abscess, decay or gum disease will not fix itself. The longer you ignore your toothache the worse it’s going to be. This is a dental emergency, so it’s important to treat it that way!
The pain went away. Do I still need to come in?
Absolutely! Just because the pain went away doesn’t mean the underlying issue is fixed. Teeth can’t repair themselves. They need professional treatment. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of comfort.
How can I ease my pain until I can come into the office?
We understand just how unbelievably painful a toothache can be. If you wake up in the middle of the night and simply need some fast relief before coming into our office here are a few things to try,
- Gargle with warm salt water to reduce inflammation
- Take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (e.g. ibuprofen)
- Apply an oral numbing ointment around the affected tooth (e.g. Orajel™)
- Place a cold compress to the side of your face to keep swelling down
If you are dealing with a toothache, know that our Manhattan, NY, dental team is here to provide you with the much-needed emergency dentistry you’re looking for. Don’t panic. Simply call Emergency Dental Care today at (646) 992-0930.