How to Handle an Emergency Toothache–Advice From Florida Dental Centers in Clearwater, FL
An emergency toothache can strike out of nowhere. One minute, you could be enjoying a movie and a bucket of popcorn. The next, you could have searing pain in your jaw. What should you do? The dentists at Florida Dental Centers in Clearwater, Florida, can provide some helpful advice.
First of all, not every toothache is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention, and it’s important to understand the difference. In the majority of cases, a toothache does not require a trip to a hospital emergency room. Instead, you should see a dentist as soon as reasonably possible—and treat your toothache at home in the meantime—if you experience:
- Dull pain in or around a tooth
- A dislodged dental filling, crown, or bridge
- A chipped or broken tooth (unless the pain is very severe)
- An object lodged between two teeth
- A broken dental appliance
On the other hand, a toothache may qualify as an emergency if it is accompanied by:
- Very severe pain
- Swelling
- Fever and other signs of infection
- A jaw injury
If you experience any of these issues, or if a permanent tooth is partially or fully knocked out, you should contact a dentist right away. The dentists at Florida Dental Centers in Clearwater are always reachable at an emergency telephone number.
While a toothache can sometimes develop no matter how careful you are, there are some steps you can take to help prevent dental emergencies. These include breaking bad habits like nail-biting and chewing on ice or pencils, avoiding hard candies and other sticky foods that can damage your teeth, and most importantly, seeing a dentist regularly for checkups and teeth cleaning.
Contact Florida Dental Centers in Clearwater, FL, today if you have an emergency toothache, need to schedule a checkup, or would like to see a dentist for any other reason.
