Living with a Toothache?
The pain in your tooth begins slowly. A dull ache that may come and go over the next several weeks or months. Then sharp zings of pain if you eat or drink anything too hot or cold. Eventually, the pain becomes prominent enough to not ignore and you begin to suspect you might have a cavity. It’s important not to delay a visit to the dentist if you have a toothache. Tooth decay can occur at any time (unfortunately, even if you brush and floss) and, in addition to causing pain, can lead to infection and even tooth loss if not properly treated. When cavities are caught early, our dentist can treat your toothache with a simple dental filling in Waterford, CT.
The Causes of Tooth Decay
You brush and floss your teeth every day, and yet you have a persistent toothache, the most common sign of tooth decay. So, what causes cavities to form on and around teeth? Tooth decay begins when bacterial plaque, often from sticky, sugary foods, and hardens onto the surface of your teeth. The acid begins to break down the enamel of your tooth and if left to progress, will create a tiny hole, or cavity. This decay can be on the surface of teeth, between teeth, and along the gumline of teeth. As the decay and cavity spread, they cause the dull toothache you may feel continuously or intermittently. Eventually, tooth decay can become so widespread that it can lead to an infection, abscess, or other issues requiring a root canal or even a tooth extraction! You can avoid these more serious problems by visiting our dentist for a dental filling the moment you feel tooth pain.