Does a Toothache Mean You Need a Tooth Filling?

When you develop a toothache, the most important thing to do first is to determine its cause. Trying out numerous home remedies instead of visiting your dentist could cost valuable time, and in the meantime, your toothache (and the cause behind it) will likely get worse. One of the more common causes behind chronic toothaches is the development of decay in the tooth, which leads to a cavity, or hole, forming in the tooth’s structure. If your toothache is an indication of a cavity, then it could mean that the only way to relieve the chronic pain is to have a tooth-colored filling placed in the tooth.

When your toothache is a sign of a cavity

A toothache could mean a lot of things, and if it doesn’t indicate any serious trouble, then a home remedy may offer some level of temporary relief. However, cavities can’t be stopped on your own, and the discomfort they cause only get worse as the tooth decay behind them progresses. This is a direct result of how tooth decay and cavities affect your teeth. At first, harmful oral bacteria release acids that weaken your tooth enamel, making your teeth more sensitive. When enamel is compromised, the bacteria infect your main tooth structure, causing more intense levels of pain that get increasingly worse over time.

How a tooth filling resolves the problem

Because tooth decay doesn’t stop on its own and you can’t treat it at home, the only way to address it is to have your dentist diagnose the condition and recommend an appropriate treatment for it. When the cause of your toothache is a cavity, then the recommended treatment is often a tooth-colored filling, which is designed to address mild to moderate cavities with highly lifelike and conservative results. Filling a cavity involves cleaning the exposed tooth structure of any harmful bacteria and infection. Then, a biocompatible, tooth-colored material is placed within the cavity, where it conforms precisely to the shape of the depression in your tooth. Removing the decay and filling the exposed part of your tooth will stop the infection from progressing and restore your tooth’s health and integrity, as well as alleviate the discomfort caused by the decay.

Why it’s important to treat the toothache soon

When a cavity first develops, the sensitivity that causes in your tooth may not be severe. However, it will continue to get worse the longer you wait to treat the condition. If tooth decay is allowed the time to progress severely enough, it can gradually make its way to the inner pulp chamber of the tooth, where the nerves and blood vessels are housed. An infected tooth pulp is a much more severe condition, and results in more intense tooth pain, than a mild or moderate cavity. Therefore, addressing it could require more involved treatment, such as root canal therapy, to restore the tooth and remove the source of your toothache.

Learn if a filling can alleviate your toothache

If your toothache means that you have a cavity, then treating it with a tooth-colored filling could be the only way to finally alleviate it. To learn more, schedule your appointment by calling Healthy Smiles in Gary, IN, today at 219-938-2637.