Is A Small Toothache Developing? Here's Why It's Important To See A Dentist

Visiting the dentist is never on the top of anyone's list, but it's a task that must be done to maintain healthy teeth and gums. While regular checkups are crucial, it's also important to see the dentist for seemingly minor issues, like a toothache. Here is why it's so important to schedule an appointment with your dentist even for a small toothache:

Reduce the Risk of Infection

A toothache could be present for many reasons, and the development of an infection is one of the most dangerous reasons. If your toothache is due to an infection and it isn't treated, the infection could turn into an abscess and spread to other parts of your body. If this happens, you could end up facing problems like cellulitis. Tooth abscesses can actually lead to life-threatening problems, which is why catching an infection early is so important. Scheduling a checkup for a toothache can help ensure that you don't develop a silent infection or abscess and that an effective treatment such as a root canal can be done quickly before more damage is done.

Avoid Tooth Damage

When a toothache is present, you may start talking and eating differently than you usually do which can lead to tooth damage such as chips and cracks. A sore tooth could lead you to chew harder and more often with only a few teeth instead of your whole mouth to avoid pain while chewing. And if you're using medication to numb your tooth pain, you might end up biting your tongue or hitting your teeth together too hard when you talk. When all is said and done, your teeth could end up becoming damaged when you eat, drink, or talk and the damage could require even further treatments from your dentist when you finally go in to take care of your initial toothache.

Catch Other Problems Early

Heading in to see your dentist as soon as a toothache starts to develop offers an excellent opportunity to catch any other dental problems that might be lingering in your mouth. Whether it's gum inflammation, a newly formed cavity, or a tiny crack in a tooth, your dentist is sure to catch any issue small or large when they see you for your toothache. This should help eliminate the chance that you'll be back with yet another toothache anytime in the near future.

For these reasons and more, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your dentist at the first sign of a toothache. To learn more, contact a dental office like Forest Edge Dental Care.