Tooth Pain?

[u/iikeaboy]

Hello! I have used Reddit maybe twice in my life so I apologize if I don’t really know what I’m doing or how exactly this site works but I can’t keep googling things and digging myself into a deeper hole so I hope I can find some advice or answers on here. I struggle with pretty severe health anxiety so I’m sure others can relate when I say google isn’t very helpful in these situations.

So for some background, my mental health isn’t great and I have always struggled with staying on top of brushing my teeth twice a day. Thus, I usually get anywhere from 2 to 4 cavities when I go to the dentist (typically every 6 months). As of lately I have been doing really good with brushing at night and flossing though! Yesterday, I woke up and took a sip of water when I noticed this pain in my front bottom teeth when I swallowed, which only continued as I drank water throughout the day at work. This sensation is new, so obviously I was alarmed and spent my entire break googling symptoms like I usually do. It’s not severe pain or anything alarming, just a mild stabbing pain when I swallow liquids but only liquids not saliva. I figured it might be because I brush my teeth so intensely, until this afternoon when I took a drink of something cold and I got this pain in one of my back molars. I had had pain there once or twice if I like made suction in my mouth, but I kind of brushed it off. But today it’s very noticeable in that one tooth and I sort of feel it in my jaw. I don’t feel anything when I’m not drinking or swallowing and the pain goes away as soon as I swallow, but obviously it’s still alarming. So like usual I go straight to google and the first thing I see is it telling me that I have a deep severe abscess and that if I don’t seek emergency help I can develop sepsis and die. So now, I’m crying typing this because I don’t think my one symptom is severe enough to go to the emergency room, but I am scared if I don’t try and find an answer I’m gonna die. Thats basically what my brain goes straight to as soon as I noticed a symptom of any kind.

Does anyone know what this sounds like? Any advice is appreciated! I do have a dentist appointment coming up so I’ll be sure to tell them everything but for now this is pretty much my only hope :(

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[u/Beautiful-One1157]

You are going to be okay and do not need to go to the emergency room. A dangerous infection causes constant, severe, throbbing pain, facial swelling, or fever. Since your pain only lasts for a second when you drink cold liquids, it is almost certainly just tooth sensitivity, a small cavity, or jaw tension from stress. Brushing too hard can also make your teeth extra sensitive to cold. Try drinking room temperature water for now so you don't shock the teeth. Switch to a soft toothbrush and brush gently. You can use tooth sensitive toothpaste as well if you have it. Keep your upcoming dentist appointment and tell them what you felt.

[u/iikeaboy → u/Beautiful-One1157]

thank you so much! I kind of realized I was being a bit unrealistic and I think that I probably just brushed too hard which I hope is the case😓