When you take a sip of your morning coffee or bite into a scoop of ice cream in the evening and feel the first signs of a toothache, you may immediately cross all of your fingers and toes in hopes that it will go away on its own. But what if the pain subsides a few weeks or months later? Did the tooth actually heal itself? Unfortunately, no. Keep reading to learn why a once painful toothache can suddenly subside and why visiting your emergency dentist is a top priority.

From dull, persistent discomfort to sharp, stabbing pain, when you have a toothache, you know it. While you may do your best to ignore it for the first few days in hopes that it will go away, the best course of action is to schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist. While that often means you’ll be seen the very same day, it’s not uncommon to have to wait a few hours or days until your visit. Here’s how to manage your discomfort in the meantime.