If you woke up this morning and realized that you are suffering from a toothache, you are not alone. If you woke up today and realized that your tooth still hurts, even after weeks of pain, you are not alone. If you woke up today frustrated with yourself that yet another day has come and gone and you still haven’t scheduled an appointment at the dentist, you are not alone.
Everyday we see patients, sometimes with terrible toothaches, who are coming to a dentist for the first time in years. Often times our patients are embarrassed or ashamed that they haven’t been to a dentist in some time, or they don’t like how their teeth look, or worse yet, they are in miserable pain. At first, a toothache can sound like a small, trivial thing, however a toothache should never be ignored or overlooked. It is almost always a sign of a problem that won’t go away on it’s own and it can truly affect our daily lives. Our teeth are a big part of our emotional responses, such as laughing and smiling, and they help us to talk and communicate with others. In addition, our teeth help us to eat, allowing us to fuel our bodies and nourish our daily lives. A toothache can really wreak havoc with all of this, leaving a person in rough shape!
Ideally, we like to avoid toothaches whenever possible. One way to strive for this is to see your dentist regularly, every 6 months. This allows for a regular ‘check-in’ to see how your at-home care is going, and see if there are any areas of concern. If there are, the idea behind the regular check-up is that we can treat any concerns before they become painful.
However, for many people going to the dentist on a regular basis was just not a developed habit. When a toothache happens to someone who doesn’t have a regular dentist, it can create unnecessary anxiety and more stress, on top of the pain. Don’t let this stress or anxiety hold you up! We encourage everyone to listen to their body and call a dentist at the first sign of pain, discomfort or swelling. Don’t wait!
At Grand Avenue Dental Care we never judge you on how long it has been since you’ve been to a dentist, or on how long you’ve been in pain. You are here now! Which means, that we can help you. Ultimately, we want all of our patients to avoid toothaches and be pain free as much as possible. However, when it does happen, we are here to help. Don’t let a toothache take over, whether you have a dentist or not, call today!
