You may come to us, learn that you have tooth decay, and then immediately wonder where the toothache is. Shouldn’t your tooth hurt if you have a cavity? If there’s no pain, does that mean that you don’t actually have an oral health problem that requires restorative care? Don’t worry. If you think you’re the first person who has ever been a bit blown away by this confusing set of circumstances, you’re far from it! Let’s go over some important information.
A Bad Cavity Could Feel Like Nothing
It’s entirely possible to have a cavity (a bad one at that) and to feel like everything is perfectly fine. Just because you have tooth decay doesn’t mean you’re going to experience a toothache. What does this mean, exactly? It means that you cannot trust your sensations alone to tell you whether you have decay. You need to trust our checkups!
A Moderate Cavity Could Hurt Very Badly!
Now, let’s say you have a very small to moderate cavity. This could most certainly yield pain. As a result, you may think your toothache means you have some very severe decay. In reality, however, it’s minor. Again, your sensations will not always line up directly with your assumptions about what’s going on.
Tooth Pain Could Be Something Else
A toothache does not automatically mean that the problem is that your tooth has decay. It could mean a lot of things! You may be dealing with bruxism. Maybe you hit your tooth on something. The list continues. When you want to know what’s wrong (and you should find out ASAP), come see us.
Rely On Prevention For Your Healthy Smile
Don’t assume that you can rely on symptoms or their absence to let you know if your oral health is safe. Instead, rely on your checkups! Learn more by scheduling a visit in Prairie Village, KS by calling Robert M Browne, DDS at (913) 901-8585.
