Why Did My Toothache Suddenly Go Away?

After suffering from a painful toothache, it suddenly disappears! You’re in the clear, right? Actually, this isn’t usually the case. There are all sorts of reasons that you could have been struggling with a toothache, but if it goes away without reason, this isn’t a good sign. Toothaches usually occur to let you know that something isn’t right in your mouth, and you need to have it treated right away, even if the pain eventually goes away on its own. Read on to learn more about why your toothache may have disappeared.

How Do Toothaches Disappear on Their Own?

Toothaches can be a result of sensitivity, a cavity, periodontal disease, or an infection. When cavities work their way to the center of the tooth, or there is another means of passage, like a crack, bacteria have a direct route. When bacteria make it to the center of your tooth, this can be excruciatingly painful. However, after some time, the nerve will die as a result of the infection, causing the pain to subside. Even though you aren’t in pain anymore, your tooth is still at risk!

What Should You Do If a Toothache Disappears?

Once the nerves at the center of the tooth have been killed, this is a sign that you need to be seeing an emergency dentist as soon as possible. If you don’t get treatment quickly, you will likely lose the tooth. This is still just the beginning. The infection will not necessarily stop at your tooth. It can spread to other areas of the mouth and even reach the bone that supports your teeth. This painful infection can become life-threatening if given time to spread to vital organs elsewhere in the body. The sooner you get dental attention, the less time this infection has to spread, are they may even be able to save your tooth.

How Are Infected Teeth Treated?

If your tooth is beyond repair, it may need to be extracted by your emergency dentist. However, if you get to the dentist quickly enough, they may be able to save it with a root canal. Even though they have a bad rep for being painful, with modern dental techniques and anesthetics, they are generally no worse than a deep filling. You will hardly feel a thing! During this treatment, the infected pulp at the center of the tooth will be removed; the tooth will be cleaned out, and sealed. A crown may be placed over the tooth as well to prevent it further damage.

You may feel relieved once your toothache subsides, but the truth is that you still need to see your dentist as soon as you can. This way, you can prevent serious issues from arising later on.

About the Doctor

Dr. Ivan Chan, DDS, is a dedicated restorative dentist who is passionate about improving the oral health of his Glendale community. Raised in a family of dentists, he pursued his degree at UC San Francisco and specializes in a wide range of dental services, including preventative, restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. In addition to his practice, Dr. Chan volunteers on mission trips, providing dental care to underserved communities in Tijuana, Ensenada, and even with the US Navy. Outside of dentistry, he enjoys traveling, watching basketball, and visiting local breweries, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. For learn more or to schedule an appointment at his office in Glendale, visit his website or call 818-243-3838.