My Toothache Disappeared! What Does that Mean?

A toothache is one of the worst types of pain. It can distract you all day and prevent you from sleeping all night. If you have a persistent toothache, then, you might feel like celebrating if the pain suddenly disappears. But is that actually a good thing? In many cases, no, it is not. Let’s talk about what it might mean if your toothache suddenly goes away and why you should seek emergency care from Dr. Makadia and our team.

What Causes Toothaches?

Tooth pain can have a number of different causes. In many cases, a toothache is the result of dental damage or decay. When the two outer layers of the teeth — the enamel and dentin — become compromised, bacteria and outside stimuli can cause a serious infection within the tooth’s innermost layer, called the pulp. The pulp of each tooth contains a nerve, and when that nerve is irritated, it can send some powerful pain signals to the brain.

Why Might a Toothache Disappear?

If you have a severe toothache that suddenly goes away, you should not assume that everything is okay. In fact, teeth are incapable of healing themselves! Therefore, a disappearing toothache can only have a few explanations:

• The pain was coming from near a tooth, not the tooth itself. This can happen if you have sinus congestion, which can place pressure on the upper teeth. As the congestion clears up, the pain may go away.  Gum injuries and impacted food near a tooth can also cause some mild irritation. Usually, these types of toothaches are annoying but not debilitating.
• The nerve inside the tooth died. A severe, throbbing toothache is often an indication of an infection in the tooth’s pulp. Such an infection can actually cause the tooth’s nerve to die, meaning it can no longer send pain signals to the brain.

Why Seek Emergency Care?

Ideally, you should see our team in the early stages of your toothache — soon after you realize there is a problem. However, if your severe toothache suddenly goes away, you have more reason than ever to see us!

Even though your pain is gone, the infection that caused the toothache may still be present. It could continue to spread into nearby tissues and cause significant damage. It might even get into your bloodstream and cause systemic illness.

When you arrive in our office, our goal will be to diagnose the problem and provide conservative care that protects both your oral and overall health. You might need root canal therapy and a crown or possibly even an extraction.

A disappearing toothache is not usually a good thing! Seek professional treatment as soon as possible so you can avoid future problems.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Makadia has many years of experience in dentistry. He combines his top-tier skill with state-of-the-art technology to provide comfortable, effective treatment for a broad range of oral health issues, including toothaches, infections, and more. Very often, he is able to welcome emergency patients on a same-day basis. To learn more about how he and our team may be able to serve you, call us at 631-405-4390 or visit Sunrise Dental Service.