This week kicks off the Thanksgiving season. People will fill the streets with cars and make their way across the country. Recent reports indicate that as many as 45 million people will travel during Thanksgiving weekend. A toothache could potentially cause a problem for travelers. In some instances, the rapid altitude changes associated with flying can cause tooth pain. Your Waco dentist, Dr. Corbet Locke, discusses how to avoid holiday toothaches and how to treat toothaches.
Achy Holiday Toothache
Sinus infections commonly result in tooth pain for patients this time of year. A bout with the common cold or flu can cause the sinus cavity to fill with bacteria-laden fluid. The infected sinus cavity swells up which causes patients to experience dull pain in their upper teeth. Most of the time, the pain will subside within a few days. Antibiotics can also treat the infection.
Gum disease can certainly cause people to experience toothaches and pain. Gums provide necessary support for teeth, and should appear pink and firm when healthy. Current studies indicate that gum disease will affect over 75{dcbe0cd52ce35e2f156887e14605e24111ce99c14f01d3853732956d43020bdd} of American adults at some point. Always make sure to floss daily in addition to twice-daily brushing. Also, studies show that using a mouthwash approved by the American Dental Association can reduce the risk for gum disease by nearly 60{dcbe0cd52ce35e2f156887e14605e24111ce99c14f01d3853732956d43020bdd}.
Toothaches occur for a variety of reasons, but cavities can certainly cause minor tooth pain. Most patients report that their teeth experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods, beverages, and even air. Most of the time, we can place a filling in a tooth affected by a cavity. If the cavity stretches into the layers below tooth enamel known as dentin and pulp, then your tooth may require a dental crown, depending on the depth.
When teeth move, several teeth can experience toothaches. Many people experience crowding and shifting in their late teens or early twenties due to the emergence of wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth develop and attempt to erupt, patients report experiencing jaw pain, soreness, and persistent toothaches.
Tooth fractures occur for a variety of reasons. Dental injuries often happen during the holiday season due to rousing games of family football or basketball. Another way to fracture a tooth: chewing on ice. We recommend that people with the habit of chewing ice cease the practice to avoid tooth fractures. If you happen to fracture a tooth, contact our Waco dentist office.
Checkups for the Holidays
Due for a holiday checkup? Schedule an appointment by calling our Waco dentist office at (254) 776-4888. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, the 76712 zip code, and surrounding communities.