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Some Quick Questions to Ask Yourself
Ask yourself these four questions before deciding whether it’s a wait-and-see problem or one worth picking up the phone for.
How Long Have You Felt the Pain?
A brief twinge may be related to temporary sensitivity, particularly after something hot or cold. Pain that lasts for several days, keeps returning or is getting worse is worth having assessed by a dentist.
Are Your Gums Bleeding?
A little pink in the sink after brushing can happen from time to time. Ongoing or heavy bleeding is worth discussing with your dentist, particularly if your gums are also swollen, red, tender or painful.
Is Your Tooth Broken or Chipped?
Not every chip is urgent (plenty are cosmetic annoyances more than anything else). What matters is whether there’s pain, a sharp edge cutting your cheek or tongue, or a piece missing large enough to expose the inner tooth. The extent of a crack or chip isn’t always obvious from looking at the tooth, so a dental assessment can help determine whether treatment is needed.
Did You Have an Accident or Knock?
Sport, a fall, a bump at the gym; a hard knock to the face can sometimes damage a tooth even when symptoms aren’t severe straight away. Contact your dentist if a tooth feels loose, painful or different after an injury.
Tooth pain can have a number of causes, and you can’t always tell what’s going on just from how it feels. If it’s kept you up at night or isn’t settling, give us a call, and we can work out what to do next.”
Dr Ranjit Elias
Still Not Sure? Give Us a Call
Ring our Strathfield practice and talk it through with us. We’d rather answer a quick question over the phone than have you sit on something that needed a same-day visit.