Is Your Toothache Really a Cavity?

It's not unusual to have a small cavity without having any symptoms. Cavities are little holes in your teeth caused by tooth decay, so an untreated cavity eventually grows into a larger one that causes more pain and damage to your teeth. Regular dental checkups are important for catching cavities in their early stages.

Symptoms that You May Have a Cavity:

-Toothache
-Tooth sensitivity
-Mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold
-Visible holes or pits in your teeth
-Pain when you bite down
-Pus around a tooth

The Cavity Treatment:

The sooner you catch a cavity, the less repair your tooth will need. Since tooth decay is rotting dead tooth that spreads throughout the tooth, repairing a cavity requires the dentist to remove all traces of tooth decay. This is done by drilling out the decayed portion of the tooth and filling it in. The process can be painful, but dentists numb your mouth with a local anesthetic so it doesn't hurt very much.

Before having your tooth repaired, it's important to make a list of all medications or supplements you are currently taking, as well as any conditions you are being treated for, since these factors must be considered by the dentist before getting a cavity repaired.

Make sure to ask your dentist the following questions before the procedure, since it may be difficult to talk afterward:

How long after the procedure can I eat and drink?

Are there certain foods (hot, cold, hard or soft) that I should stay away from at first, and if so, for how long?

Is it usual to feel any pain or discomfort when the anesthetic wears off?

Are there any symptoms that I should be concerned about?

Simple Rule of Cavity Prevention:

Clingy food sticks to your teeth and causes damage. Not brushing clingy food away allows the food to stay around on your teeth longer, causing more tooth decay. Clingy food is easy to identify, if the food sticks to your finger then it will stick to your teeth. Drink plenty of water to help loosen clingy food from your teeth.

A Cause of Tooth Pain That is Not Due to Cavities:

Sinus headaches are a common cause of toothaches that can often be mistaken for cavities. If you are prone to sinus headaches and your toothaches are accompanied by ear, nose or head pain, see your doctor for treatment of sinus headaches so that the condition does not get worse. If sinus treatment relieves your tooth pain, the pain you were feeling was not from a cavity.

Sources:

"Cavities and Tooth Decay", MayoClinic.

Dr. Dan Peterson, "Sinus Headaches and Dental Health," Dental Gentle Care.