A toothache is never a laughing matter. While it can be caused by a dental trauma, most toothaches are directly related to untreated tooth decay. This can be particularly distressing if you also experience pressure, discomfort or pain in the underlying gums. This could potentially mean that the bacterial presence in the root of the tooth has created an abscess.
In a situation like this, you need to seek professional care at Steven J. Brazis, DDS as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the more you risk the infection spreading to your bloodstream and potentially causing septicemia.
Sometimes, Dr. Steven J. Brazis can treat a badly decayed tooth and toothache with a root canal. However, if an abscess is severe and a significant amount of the tooth has been compromised, Dr. Steven J. Brazis might advocate a surgical extraction.
Once all the infected material has been excised, Dr. Steven J. Brazis will suture your gums. It’s also likely that he will prescribe antibiotics to treat any lingering infection in your bloodstream. This might also include pain medication to keep you comfortable while healing.
It’s perfectly natural for the incision site might bleed a little for a few days after the extraction. You can control the bleeding by lightly biting down on some rolled-up sterile gauze. Once the bleeding stops, you can lightly rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater.
It’s best to avoid chewing food on that side of your mouth for a few days while the gums heal. You also shouldn’t drink through a straw as the suction can pull blood clots loose.
If you live in the Sacramento, California, area and you have a toothache or general pain in your gums, you should call 916-731-5151 to seek treatment at Steven J. Brazis, DDS.
