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What makes a toothache hurt…

Dentist in Llano, TX

I have vivid memories of my last earache. My fiancé (and current wife/partner/great Mom to my kids) and I had retreated to the hill country for a few days so that I could study for my national
dental board exams. It was summertime and we headed to a hunting lease in Junction for a quiet July 4th holiday. At some point, we took a study break and went swimming in a big stock cistern that we had sanitized with a few gallons of bleach. A few hours later, my ear started to throb. A few more hours and I was miserable.

Luckily, Junction had an emergency room and a doc on call. I rolled in at 8:00 am on Independence Day for an exam, a painful poke in the ear, and the prescriptions that followed. My next
problem was that we had to bother the pharmacist to come in and dispense the prescriptions. After a long rest of the day, the Vicodin and antibiotics began to work and I returned to my studies. A few weeks later, our trip paid off and I passed my first round of boards.

So why does an earache hurt so much? Also, what makes a toothache so painful? The answer to both questions has to do with our bodies’ response to damage or infection…inflammation.

Our body’s reaction to injury almost always involves the process of inflammation. To make a long story short, damaged tissue swells as a side effect of being repaired. The growth of an infection can also cause fluid or pus to build up in damaged areas of our bodies. Now take all these cells coming to save the day, add in some fluid and a few colonies of bacteria and things start to get crowded. On top of all that, lock these conditions into a tight space (the inside of a tooth or ear canal) and things can get painful…fast. I remember that earache vividly.

The intense, throbbing pain of a toothache has much to do with swelling in an enclosed space.  Eventually, this swelling will burst into more space and be relieved. This stops the pain short term, but sets up an even greater infection, commonly called an abscess. If left untreated, an abscess can spread even further and cause systemic (full body) health problems. Oral antibiotics often work short term, but the abscess will always return until the source (the infected tooth) is treated. A toothache is a suggestion to get something done.

A bad toothache causes pain that is not easily forgotten. Just one more reason to brush and floss daily.

Also, be careful where you swim.

Until next time, keep smiling.

‐Please send comments through www.ParrishDental.com.

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Llano, TX Dentist

Made a visit to Parrish Dentistry this morning with my full family of 4 and could not have gone better. From the check in process to examination to cleaning they were hitting on all cylinders and we could not have been happier. Even our young kids were very entertained throughout the process due to their kid friendly staff and welcoming environment. Thanks Parrish Dentistry team for making our visit over the top!

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Dentist in Llano, TX

Location Address

Parrish Dentistry

307 East State Highway 71
Llano, TX 78643

325-247-4000

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Your Health and Safety is our Top Priority

Dentist in Llano, TX

Parrish Dentistry has always had the very highest of standards when it comes to your child's health and that hasn’t changed. Every time you and your child visit our office, our primary goal is to ensure your health and your safety.

We continue to maintain and uphold the requirements set forth by the CDC, OSHA, and the ADA in regards to sanitation and infection control, ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all.