Robert J Malone DDS

Cosmetic Dentistry

Escondido, CA

760-746-2559

Services

• Dental Emergencies & Urgencies
  • Tooth Decay & Toothaches
  • Broken Tooth Or Filling
  • Crown (Cap) Off Or Loose
  • Injury Or Accident
• Preventive & Diagnostic Services
  • Professional Dental Cleaning
  • Periodontal (Gum Tissue) Evaluation
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Laser Cavity Detection (Diagnodent)
  • Tooth Decay Risk Assessment
  • Preventive Tooth Sealants
  • Fluoride Therapy
  • Nightguard Teeth Protectors
• Gum Tissue Treatment
• Tooth Restorations - Fillings / Onlays / Crowns
• Tooth Replacements - Dental Implants
• Tooth Replacements - Fixed Bridges
• Full Mouth Rehabilitation
• Dentures / Partials

Tooth Decay and Toothaches

Self Care Tips

For most people, a toothache comes on gradually and worsens over time. Very often a toothache will occur in the middle of the night or on a weekend when going to the dentist is difficult.

Until you can come to the dental office, try these self care tips for a toothache:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water. Gently use dental floss or a toothpick to remove any food or debris that may be caught between your teeth.
• Use dental floss to remove any food particles wedged between your teeth.
• Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to dull the ache.
• Apply an over-the-counter antiseptic containing benzocaine directly to the irritated tooth and gum to temporarily relieve pain. Direct application of oil of cloves (eugenol) also may help. Use a small ball of cotton in between the teeth or directly in the cavity area. Be careful not to use too much clove oil to avoid burning the gum tissue.
• If there is any bleeding from the tooth or gum, a wet black tea bag placed on your sore gum or tooth for 30 minutes will relieve the soreness and may even stop the bleeding.
• Do NOT place aspirin or another painkiller directly against your gums, as it may burn your gum tissue.

CALL OUR OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TOOTHACHES WILL NOT GO AWAY WITHOUT PROPER TREATMENT. IT WILL ONLY WORSEN OVER TIME. CALL 760-746-2559.

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How a Toothache Develops

Tooth decay is the primary cause of toothaches. Bacteria that live in your mouth thrive on the sugars and starches in the food you eat. These bacteria form a sticky plaque that clings to the surface of your teeth.

Acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can eat through the hard, white coating on the outside of your teeth (enamel), creating a cavity. The first sign of decay may be a sensation of pain when you eat something sweet, very cold or very hot.

Tooth Decay Progresses Over Time

If Tooth Decay is left untreated, it will continue to progress until the bacteria invade the center of the tooth where the nerve is located. Since the enamel outside layer is very hard, it will progress slowly at first (1). However, once the enamel has been penetrated, the tooth decay progresses at a faster rate (2).

Initially, only slight sensitivity may be felt. As the cavity deepens, the tooth becomes more painful, until the pain is constant and sharp. Once the nerve is reached (3), the tooth will abscess (5). The abscess is likely to cause swelling in the jaw.

It is always best to treat tooth decay as early as possible to avoid pain, and treatment that is more invasive, as well as more costly. If too much of the tooth is destroyed, it may require extraction.