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If you have been unfortunate enough to have had a toothache, you know that it is a painful experience. Pain throbs around the tooth and gum area, sometimes accompanied by a headache. Toothaches make it difficult to chew. Tooth pain makes sleep difficult. Why do we have tooth pain? What can we do about it? Riverside Dental Group explains basic facts about toothache pain and treatment.

Possible Causes of a Toothache

When someone describes a toothache, the pain may come from the tooth, the jaw, or the gum in the area of the tooth. Some causes directly relate to problems with the teeth while others do not. Possible causes of toothache include:

  • a dental cavity, the most common cause
  • an exposed tooth root, due to receding gums
  • a cracked tooth, possibly due to injury or teeth grinding
  • nerve pain from exposure or damage
  • an abscessed tooth, a condition in which the dental pulp, or nerve, becomes infected
  • an ear infection
  • a sinus infection

If you have a medical problem such as an ear or a sinus infection, treat that problem according to your doctor’s instructions. While at home with a toothache, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain. These analgesics may also help if you have developed a headache. Pain relieving gels help for short periods of time. Natural home remedies for toothache include chewing on garlic each day, gargling with warm salt water, or rinsing the area with lemon or lime juice.

For persistent pain or if swelling is present, visit your dentist to determine the source of the problem. You may have a dental cavity that requires a dental filling or, if the pulp is damaged, a root canal. Your specific dental care issues require diagnosis and a treatment plan from your dentist. If you do not seek treatment, you may continue to have tooth pain and the dental problem could worsen over time.

Toothache Treatment in Moreno Valley

Your Moreno Valley dentists will help you to relieve your toothache. Riverside Dental Group can provide treatment for all of your dental needs through our multi-specialty practice. Call our 92533 dentist office at (951) 697-6800 to make an appointment.