Toothaches: When Does Pain Become an Emergency?

Whether they are mild or severe, toothaches are always uncomfortable. To protect your oral health, it is critical to identify when your toothache is more than just a minor annoyance. When you are experiencing a toothache emergency, you will need to seek immediate treatment at an emergency dental clinic near San Jose. Your emergency dentist can provide you with an immediate diagnosis, and he or she will be able to treat your symptoms so that you are provided with relief. To help you determine whether you need to make a trip to the dentist, here is a look at some signs that your toothache is a dental emergency.

You are running a fever.

In certain instances, severe tooth pain may be accompanied by a fever. If your toothache is also making you feel extremely hot, chilled, or fatigued, this is a sign that you may have an infection in your tooth or jaw. Tooth pain that is accompanied by a fever qualifies as a serious dental emergency.

Your jaw or neck is swollen.

Toothaches can be the result of tooth abscesses, which are pockets of bacteria, pus, and dead tissue that collect around the root of a tooth. When you are suffering from an abscessed tooth, you may notice that the painful area is also extremely swollen and sensitive. Since a tooth abscess can become life threatening without treatment, you will need to visit your emergency dentist for urgent treatment.

Your pain is causing you severe discomfort.

When you simply can’t handle the pain that is caused by your toothache, do not wait to contact your emergency dentist. Severe tooth pain can make it difficult to chew, swallow, or even talk. If you are suffering and feel like your pain is becoming more severe by the hour, you should treat your toothache as a dental emergency. During your trip to the dentist, you will receive the treatment that is needed to eliminate your pain and restore the health of your smile.