How Do You Self-Diagnose Dental Pain?
Until it gets to the stage of restiveness and absolute discomfort, no one can best identify an ache to the tooth better than the affected person. Such ache could include the following: -
- Intermittent Sharp ‘Jabbing’ Pains
- Sharp Tooth Sensitivity
- Dull Nagging Toothache
- Extreme Throbbing Pain
- Pain only when eating.
- Pain at the Back of the Jaw
However, gathering information about toothache will help enrich your understanding for better description when you finally approach a dentist for proper treatment.
Methods to Respond To Toothache
For intermittent aches which are inconsistent, there might not be an urgent need to consult a dentist for advice but in the case of persistent and intense ache, seeking dentist consultation, advice and treatment might be just the best and immediate step to take.
Pains associated with defects such as tooth decay is often common and easy to diagnose by a dentist. But detecting such defects as root infection is a bit more complicated, time consuming and trickery.
Different Diagnoses Techniques to Expect
The nature of sensitivity or pain experience determines the diagnoses method to employ. For conspicuous defect such as decay, what is required is mere observation while an x-ray will be employed to detect inner defects such as root infections.
Tests to diagnose the nature and extent of ache or sensitivity could include a biting pressure test, a cold air test, hot air test and several others.
The Most Common Diagnoses for Toothache
Outcome of observed cases has confirmed the following as the major causes of tooth ache: -
- Tooth decay otherwise known as cavity
- Inflammation of the pulp
- Cracks and fractures
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Gum disease
- Sensitive teeth
- Other causes as a result of sinus infection or congestion from other parts of the body such as nose or ear or even the mouth itself.
Dental Abscess
This is a type of bacterial infection to the pulp of the tooth interior usually treated through the instrumentality of root canal.
Of all tooth infections, abscess is often the most painful and discomforting. It occurs only when the affected tissue had been left untreated for a bit long time. The extent of the pain caused by dental abscess often make it quite difficult to neglect or delay in its treatment.
It can however be cured through root canal which only requires making an opening in the tooth, remove the infected pulp and wash the inner tooth clean with and antibacterial substance, fill the opening back and put a crown on the affected tooth. If left untreated for a long time, an individual might stand the risk of complete extraction thereby loosing the original and natural tooth.
While you await dental attention or appointment, there are recommended first aid required to suppress the pain of dental abscess. Avoid taking very hot or cold drink/food, use some recommended pain killer and avoid overdose no matter the extent of pain or rather opt for anti-inflammatory drugs to sooth the tissue and nerves. If a painkiller doesn’t work, try out the oil of cloves. Brushing and flossing can also help relieve pain temporarily. But ultimately, seeking treatment from a dentist is the most enduring and advisable cure approach.
People at Increased Risk of Dental Problem
Cracks, fracture, cavities which are known dental problems are often associated with individuals with poor hygiene such as irregular brushing and flossing, fizzy drinks and sugary snacks or ailments such as diabetes.
