At What Point Is Your Toothache Worth An Emergency Visit To The Dentist?

Written By Anita Ginsburg / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Toothaches are not uncommon, so there is a good chance you know how irritating they can be. However, severe tooth pain may signal a more serious problem than biting down too hard on a firm piece of food or even the presence of a cavity.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, consider making an emergency visit to the dentist's office.

Bleeding and a toothache

If your extreme toothache is accompanied by bleeding from your tooth, gums, or other oral tissues, you need to be evaluated by an emergency dentist immediately. Bleeding that is significant and does not slow down within a couple of minutes could signal a more serious problem that requires prompt attention, especially if you have sustained a mouth injury that led to the pain and blood loss.

Temperature and a toothache

Pain that remains consistent or increases along with a rising body temperature could be a sign of infection. Take your temperature every couple of hours to determine whether it is increasing or leveling off.

Your dentist's office can explain the specific temperature threshold that might be a cause for concern. Although causes may vary, tooth pain coupled with a temperature can signal a serious issue.

Headache and a toothache

Like toothaches, headaches are fairly common, and most of us have them on occasion. However, an intense headache that seems to be linked to the tooth pain you are experiencing could indicate connected symptoms.

Get checked out at the emergency dentist's office to have your symptoms evaluated and treated. Even if you think the problem is not severe, this type of symptoms warrants an examination.

Dizziness and a toothache

Persistent or deep toothache pain coupled with dizziness that disrupts your daily activities should be assessed by an emergency dentist. Feeling dizzy in itself can be due to common factors like allergies, dehydration, or fatigue. Feeling dizzy while experiencing severe toothache is a situation that should not be ignored. Likely, your tooth is infected and needs a root canal or extraction.

Malaise and a toothache

Feeling unusually tired or weak while having a strong toothache is another combination of symptoms that should be medically checked out during an emergency visit to the dentist. Not feeling yourself or feeling unwell when experiencing a bad toothache indicates a more serious condition could be developing that needs to be quickly evaluated. You may have an abscess in your mouth or another kind of infection.

Dental discomfort can occur for many reasons. However, if the pain is extreme and associated with additional symptoms of illness, don't wait and hope the problem will clear up on its own. Contact your dentist immediately and go to the emergency dentist's office for help.

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Written By:

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colo. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.