A toothache is a real pain any day of the year. But nothing’s worse than a toothache on a holiday! Every holiday has its own set of yummy treats that are meant to be enjoyed by people of all ages. So how are you supposed to enjoy Halloween without being able to chew candy because of dental pain?
The truth is, you can’t! That’s why our team at Carolina Bright Smiles is bringing you this blog today!
We want your Halloween to be as fun as it was when you were a kid. It may have been years since you last went trick-or-treating, but hey, you deserve to indulge in this glorious candy season as much as anyone else.
Dr. Garrett and our highly-skilled team of professionals can help you do that! With restorative services in our Hillsborough, NC dental office, we can help you get out of pain so you don’t miss out on all the sugary fun of Halloween.
Today, we’re talking about what might be lurking behind your toothache and how we can help you keep it from haunting your Halloween this year.
Is A Toothache Haunting You This Halloween?
There’s a prevailing misconception about dental care that assumes if you have a dental problem, you’ll know it. That’s because we all tend to believe that every oral health problem starts with pain.
That’s not true. In fact, you can have all sorts of issues with your teeth and gums that may not be obvious initially. That’s why routine dental checkups are so important. If we can spot potential problems early, we can prevent them from becoming big problems later.
But there’s another dental myth floating around out there that has to do with toothaches. Many believe that a toothache isn’t a big deal. They might try to ignore it, or they’ll take some OTC pain relievers and hope that it will eventually go away on its own.
However, pain is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong. That’s why you should never try to ignore a toothache, because it could be your mouth’s way of telling you to get to a dentist for treatment!
Treatment for what, you ask? Here are a few possibilities:
Is It A Cavity?
Despite what you might think, you won’t necessarily know you have a cavity until a dental exam reveals it. But there are times when a cavity might lead to pain and discomfort depending on how large it is or where it’s located in your mouth. Being close to a tooth’s nerve ending may cause a toothache. The only way to know if a dental filling is the right solution is to have it looked at by a dental professional.
Is It Damage?
A damaged tooth can sometimes cause a toothache. If you’ve cracked, chipped, or broken your tooth, you might try to convince yourself that it doesn’t need to be checked out by your dentist as long as it’s not visible when you smile. But the fact is, minor damage can quickly turn into major damage to your tooth, resulting in a toothache, the longer you let it go untreated.
Is It A Failed Restoration?
Restorations such as dental crowns and fillings are made to protect your teeth for many years. Unfortunately, they aren’t made to last your entire lifetime. So that means what’s giving you pain might be a failed restoration.
Crowns and fillings can break, loosen, or fall out, and it’s really important to have it looked at by your dentist to make sure the issue is resolved before your problem worsens.
Is It An Infection?
This is definitely the kind of toothache you should never ignore. An infected tooth often requires either an extraction or a root canal. Either way, letting an infected tooth go untreated is very dangerous because that infection can make its way into your bloodstream and become incredibly harmful to your overall health!
Find Relief For Your Halloween Toothache!
Don’t let a toothache spoil your Halloween plans! Let Dr. Garrett at Carolina Bright Smiles help you get out of pain and onto a fun night of costume parties and candy!
We offer restorative dentistry, which includes dental fillings, crowns, bridges, and root canal therapy, all of which can help resolve your tooth pain caused by the problems we’ve talked about in today’s blog.
Enjoy Halloween candy without toothache pain! Call us today at 919-644-7400 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.