Pain - JA Haselhorst DDS LTD

Most Dental Pain is Treatable

Dental pain can be debilitating, and it can have a significant impact on your quality of life. There’s no need to suffer.

What Causes Dental Pain?

There are a number of things that can cause dental pain, though the most common are tooth decay, gum disease, infections (which may present as dental abscesses), and dental trauma.

What is tricky about dental pain is that the facial nerve pathways are shared, so you may feel pain in your mouth that does not have a dental explanation – this is known as referred pain.

No matter the source of your dental pain, it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist to diagnose the cause and begin treatment. If you have a fever and suspect an infection, seek emergency medical care.

Can I Treat My Dental Pain Myself?

In most cases, dental pain will require intervention from a dentist because there is a clinical cause that will go away on its own. With the exception of food becoming lodged in your gums (such as popcorn hulls – a common culprit), the source of your dental pain needs to be diagnosed and a professional treatment plan is critical to prevent more significant problems.

Over-the-counter medications geared toward dental pain are not going to cure the symptoms – they merely mask them. Topical numbing gels should be used sparingly because you may be less aware of your pain and cause further injury. The only way to truly treat your pain is to figure out the cause and receive treatment under the care of a trusted dentist.