Mokoia Road Dental Centre

What is toothache?

A sharp shooting pain or a constant dull pain in the tooth qualifies as toothache. It may be experienced when pressure is applied, such as while chewing or tapping. It can also be triggered from hot or cold food. Often however, toothache can also develop spontaneously, without any immediate or clear trigger. This may sometimes be accompanied by a swelling of the gums or cheek, slight bleeding or a foul discharge from the affected part of the gums. If toothache lasts for longer than a day it should be treated. In case the pain is severe and also accompanied by a fever or headache, one should seek an emergency dentist appointment. From experience, quite often people tend to delay immediate attention because of the “Cost”. Yes, it may cost to get the toothache sorted immediately. But if we leave the toothache unattended too long, effectively, we are making a supposed-to-be “affordable dental treatment” into a costly dental repair. For example (and this is what we see on a daily basis), John broke his tooth from eating minty. Initially he only felt a little sensitive to cold water. He left it, hoping it would go away. A few months later, the tooth suddenly became sensitive to hot and was painful to eat. Soon, it developed into a constant dull throbbing toothache that constantly woke John up at night. He was sleep deprived and had no choice but to see an emergency dentist.  The dentist informed him that he had two options: An extraction or A expensive root canal treatment!  Sounds familiar ? What just happened there in that few months ? John could have easily saved himself all the pain and agony by visiting getting an emergency dentist appointment to repair the broken tooth.  The once affordable dental visit now ended with irreversible damage to the tooth.

Causes

Pain is a sensation communicated by nerves. Toothache occurs when the nerve in the tooth is aggravated.  A common cause is gradual and prolonged tooth decay. It could also happen as a result of an injury such as a tooth fracture.  Other causes of pain include infection, plaque buildup, erupting wisdom teeth (molars), failed dental fillings, crowns and bridges. Sometimes, sinusitis or earache can also cause toothache-like symptom.

Prevention

Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of tooth decay. Bacteria love sugar and thrive in our mouths after meals. They convert simple sugars to weak acids, eroding their way through the enamel on teeth. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and something as small as bacteria can significantly damage it if left unchecked. A major loss of tooth enamel usually cannot be restored naturally. Fortunately the erosion does not happen all at once. Signs of tooth decay such as cavities, discoloration, cracks, chips and sensitivity can be treated, although prevention is best. Proper daily dental care including brushing and flossing accompanied by regular dental check-ups is the best form of prevention. People who already have bridges or dentures need to take extra care. Avoid carbonated sodas and highly acidic foods such as lemons and gooseberries. Something as simple as chewing gum can slow down tooth decay. Periodic teeth cleaning is an affordable dental procedure and a great preventive measure recommended for all age groups. In case toothache does develop, it’s prudent to stop smoking since it is known to degrade oral health. Avoiding very hot or cold foods may also offer some relief.

Affordable Dental

Another reason why people postpone their visit to the dentist is “Fear “. We called this “Odontophobia”. Sadly toothache usually doesn’t go away on its own. In fact waiting may actually exacerbate an easily manageable condition and necessitate an emergency dentist visit. Dr Google will show us numerous home remedies for toothache ranging from garlic to bourbon. Unfortunately none of these really work since they treat the symptoms and not the cause. Over the counter (OTC) oral rinses available at pharmacy sometimes will provide temporary relief until you can visit your dentist. OTC should never be taken in excess of the dosage recommended on the package. The best course of action is to book a dentists’ appointment. Mokoia Road Dental Centre located in Birkenhead, North Shore is an affordable dental care provider to the communities at Birkenhead and Northcote. The gentle, caring and professional approach of our dentists and staffs makes your visits to the dentist easy.

“Emergency Dentist Visit”

Like many other medical conditions tooth decay is much more easily reversed with affordable dental treatment if detected early. A dental assessment will involve an examination, radiographs (X-rays) and other diagnostic tests as needed. Our dentists will evaluate if the treatment will consist of deep cleaning or medication including antibiotics to control an infection. In nearly all cases of toothache, seeking professional dental help in the early stages of discomfort will save significant amounts of time, money and pain.  At Mokoia Road Dental Centre, we’re fully computerized and equipped with modern equipment to handle nearly every procedure in-house. Our dentists regularly keep up to date with the current techniques in dentistry.