{"id":445,"date":"2019-12-11T18:05:52","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T18:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/blog\/?p=445"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:55:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T13:55:14","slug":"toothache-what-to-do-if-it-goes-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/11\/toothache-what-to-do-if-it-goes-away\/","title":{"rendered":"If a Toothache Goes Away, Do You Still Need To See a Dentist?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Woman-in-dental-chair-touching-her-cheek.jpg\" alt=\"Woman in dental chair touching her cheek\" class=\"wp-image-446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Woman-in-dental-chair-touching-her-cheek.jpg 333w, https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Woman-in-dental-chair-touching-her-cheek-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Understandably, no one wants to see a dentist unless they really have to. But while you would clearly schedule a visit if you\u2019re in pain, what if you have a toothache that comes and goes? Or one that flares up for only a day or two and then goes away entirely? It may be tempting to chalk this up to good luck and consider the problem solved. But, in this blog, you\u2019ll find out why a \u201cdisappearing toothache\u201d could actually be a serious problem and why seeing an emergency dentist is still essential. Keep reading below to learn more!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Would a Toothache Go Away?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some toothaches have ongoing symptoms that don\u2019t go away until they\u2019re treated. Other toothaches are more \u201crandom\u201d and may only flare up for a short time. Here are some possible reasons for toothaches that seems to go away on their own:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mild toothaches<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; In some cases, tooth pain is caused by gum recession, where the gums pull back and expose the sensitive root of the tooth. This is usually fairly mild and may even improve over time on its own. Another potential cause for pain that comes and goes is a small cavity that\u2019s only starting to be symptomatic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Moderate to severe toothaches<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 If you have moderate or severe pain, it\u2019s usually a sign that the nerve of your tooth is badly inflamed or infected. This can occur from a cavity or some type of trauma to the tooth. If this type of toothache goes away, it\u2019s typically because the nerve of the tooth has \u201cdied\u201d or been destroyed by the infection, which is why the pain goes away. But the&nbsp;<strong>infection is still there<\/strong>&nbsp;and can lead to serious problems if it isn\u2019t treated.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Importance of Seeing a Dentist, Even If a Toothache Goes Away&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the nerve of a tooth has died, but an infection is still there, the infection will continue&nbsp;spreading and destroy the bone that surrounds the root. This may make an extraction necessary, along with additional treatment to replace the missing tooth such as a dental implant, bridge, or partial denture. Even worse, it can spread to other areas of the body such as the brain and become dangerous or even fatal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put, any type of tooth pain is an indication that something is wrong. To determine if the problem is minor or serious, you must see an&nbsp;emergency dentist&nbsp;for an evaluation, diagnosis, and possible treatment. Although the pain may have subsided, you\u2019re always better off safe than sorry, especially with the potential consequences of not getting treatment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Sheri McIntosh&nbsp;is a general and emergency dentist with more than 15 years of experience and also a native of north Texas. She doesn\u2019t believe in taking chances with her patients\u2019 health and always encourages people to have a toothache checked out, even if their pain has gone away. If you have a toothache that\u2019s come and gone or have any questions, you can contact Dr. McIntosh via her&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.distinguished-dental.com\/contact.html\">website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understandably, no one wants to see a dentist unless they really have to. But while you would clearly schedule a visit if you\u2019re in pain, what if you have a toothache that comes and goes? Or one that flares up for only a day or two and then goes away entirely? It may be tempting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>If a Toothache Goes Away, Do You Still Need To See a Dentist?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A toothache can feel \u201crandom,\u201d and the pain may even go away on its own. 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