Is My Toothache A Dental Emergency?

If you have pain in your tooth, this could be linked to a serious issue that needs treatment. Otherwise, your smile could risk losing a tooth! Fortunately, we have emergency dental care to repair damage or address issues that could cause a tooth to become lost. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists will be looking at addressing toothaches with emergency dentistry.

The Link Between Toothaches and Trouble

When your tooth feels sensitive or aches, this could be a sign of a serious oral health issue, one that needs attention to prevent more serious complications. Often, this could mean a tooth has developed a cavity or an infection or abscess. These issues develop when the outermost layer of tooth structure, the enamel, becomes damaged or weakened. The enamel protects the teeth from harmful bacteria. However, when poor oral hygiene and plaque buildup weaken and erode the enamel, or if an injury occurs, this exposes the dentin, causing a cavity to form, and eventually, could expose the inner pulp which leads to an infection or abscess. If you encounter persistent tooth sensitivity and toothache, then contact our team today.

Addressing the Issue at Home

With routine care and better diets, we can limit our risk of enamel erosion and tooth decay, as well as other more serious complications. To start, make sure you brush your teeth when you wake up and again before going to bed. Each session should last about two minutes, and make use of a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Flossing is also essential, as this removes the trapped food particles stuck between the teeth. These actions deprive bacteria of a meal, reducing the severity of plaque buildup until we can see you for a cleaning!

What you eat also matters. Foods and drinks high in sugar and starch could provide meals for bacteria, allowing plaque to form and coat the teeth. The buildup not only makes stains more apparent, but also weakens enamel and inflames gum tissue, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

When to See Our Team

If you have pain in your tooth, let us know. We will schedule a time to see you and make sure the waiting room is empty when you arrive. We will examine your tooth and if we discover trouble, administer restorative treatments to address the concern, such as a filling or a custom-made crown. In between each patient visit, we thoroughly clean and disinfect surfaces in the office to help keep you safe.

SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO OFFERS EMERGENCY TREATMENT

At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, we want to make sure poor oral health doesn’t lead to serious trouble down the road. For more information on emergency dental care, then contact our N. Zaragoza dental practice by calling 915-849-9000.