I’ve been dealing with a toothache for a week or so and this morning I woke up and one side of my face has blown up like a chipmunk with his cheek full of nuts. I’m in so much pain! I lost my job a few months ago and have no insurance and a limited budget. Is there a way I can treat the infection without seeing a dentist? — Austin
Austin,
There’s nothing like being in pain and feeling like you can’t do anything about it. Unfortunately, here’s the deal with infected teeth: you can’t just take an antibiotic – the tooth also needs to be treated. Antibiotics can’t get inside the infected tooth, so by continuing to just treat it with medication, the infection will eventually become resistant and then you could be in a very serious health situation.
Tooth infections can spread quickly – to the brain or to other areas of your mouth or neck. If it happens to settle in your throat, it could swell shut and choke you. If you can’t afford the best treatment option – a root canal — you could at least have the tooth pulled. Either way, get it treated as soon as possible.
Check and see of your community has a clinic or program that offers basic emergency dental care for people in your situation. Or, try some dentists in your area, explain your situation and see if one will work with you to set up a payment plan. Just don’t put this off any longer and risk the infection getting worse.
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.