When to See a Dentist for Tooth Pain

Tooth pain is one of the worst types of pain patient encounters. Why? Because it hits one of the most sensitive places on the human body – the mouth – and the cause is frequently not obvious.

If a patient feels pain from a cut finger, they apply an antibacterial band-aid and move on. However, the same level of pain coming from a tooth can often be accompanied by an equal amount of stress and anxiety because the patient, who is not a trained dental professional, can be unsure about what to do.
Common Symptoms of Tooth Pain
Not all tooth pain is created equal, and no two patients experience the same combination of symptoms. Here are a few symptoms that patients might experience that could be related to a dental issue needing professional care.

Metallic taste in the mouth
Bleeding or aching gums
A tooth that’s sensitive to heat, cold, or touch
Frequent headaches
Swelling of the jaw
Exhaustion or chronic tiredness
Numbness around the tooth area
The appearance of canker sores that don’t fade away with topical treatments
Dental Causes of Tooth Pain
Just as no two patients experience the same combination of symptoms, the root cause of their pain can vary as well. For each of the causes listed below, it’s best to seek help from a dental professional.
Cavity
A cavity is a hole in the hard enamel layers of your tooth that exposes the internal nerves. Left untreated, a cavity can grow larger and open up the tooth to bacterial infection.
Loose Tooth
A tooth may become loose when hit with a forceful impact or when the gum and bone support underneath the tooth degrades due to disease. The tooth no longer has a firm foundation and it will move during normal activities such as chewing or talking.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that develops underneath on the side of the base of the tooth. The pocket is typically caused by a bacterial infection or when a foreign object (e.g. a seed or a small piece of metal) becomes embedded in the gums.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue at the base of the tooth. With professional treatment, gum disease can eat away at the bones that support a tooth.
Non-dental Causes of Tooth Pain
Before you contact a dental professional, consider that not all tooth pain is caused by a dental problem. Sometimes what feels like a toothache is caused by “referred pain” or pain that’s felt in one area but caused by something else. Here are a few examples of root causes for referred pain.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia refers to the network of nerves on the side of your face that spider through your sinus cavities above your eye, down through your temple to your, and along your jaw bone. When part or all of the network is inflamed due to injury or infection, the patient may experience very similar pain to a toothache.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
With TMD, there may be damage or inflammation in the joint that connects the lower jaw to the upper jaw. Again, the patient may feel power similar to a toothache but dental procedures will have little to no effect.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Patients who grind their teeth may experience jaw fatigue and tooth sensitivity. Bruxism refers to the condition where patients unconsciously grind their teeth while they sleep.
Home Remedies While You Wait
If your tooth pain persists and you have reason to believe it’s related to a dental problem, seek out help from a dental professional. However, it’s not always possible to see a dentist right away. If scheduling a dental office visit requires a significant wait time, there are a few home remedies to try that will provide some temporary relief.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine
Nearly every convenience store, grocery store, and pharmacy carries some type of OTC medicine to help reduce pain and inflammation such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. If you have a sensitive stomach, avoid OTC medicine containing NSAIDs (e.g. Ibuprofen) as they’re known to cause stomach upset when taken regularly.
Warm Salt Water
Rinsing your painful tooth area with warm salt water removes food particles that might be irritating the nerve endings, disinfects the area against bacteria, and reduces inflammation.
Cold Compress
Tooth pain can partly be caused by inflammation around the nerve endings inside the tooth. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and inflammation, easing the nerve irritation.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint has a mild numbing effect on inflamed tissue and contains antibacterial compounds. Swishing your mouth with warm (not hot) peppermint tea frequently can bring the inflammation down and reduce pain caused by bacteria.
Thyme
Like peppermint and saltwater, thyme has antibacterial properties that can eliminate the causes of infection. Swish your mouth with warm (not hot) thyme tea or dab a piece of gauze or a cotton ball with diluted thyme oil and apply it to the area of pain.
Aloe vera
According to Healthline.com:
“Aloe vera is an antioxidant-rich plant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce pain and swelling in the mouth. However, if you have diabetes or are taking medication to control blood sugar, aloe vera could potentially lower your blood glucose to an unsafe level.
See a Dentist
Home remedies that provide temporary relief are just that – temporary. Whenever you have chronic tooth pain and you’re not sure why, reach out to a dental professional for help.