Tooth pain is a common dental condition that can cause serious discomfort. While it is often a symptom of deeper issues, there can be multiple underlying causes behind the pain that you feel in your teeth and mouth.
By understanding what causes toothache, patients can better protect themselves from developing this issue and also know how to seek appropriate treatment when needed.
So let’s take a closer look at some of the most common causes of toothaches that may be present in our daily lives.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay is a serious condition that can cause sharp pain and lead to dental problems.
When bacteria feed on the sugar left behind after eating, they produce an acid that wears away at the enamel of the tooth and causes infection. Plaque and tartar are two dental problems that can lead to tooth decay if left untreated.
Plaque is a sticky substance consisting of bacteria, living organisms, and food particles that accumulates on the surface of teeth. While plaque can be removed during regular brushing, it can harden into tartar which requires professional cleaning by a dentist or hygienist.
Tartar is more difficult to remove since it has become hardened onto the tooth’s surface and may require mechanical scraping by a qualified dental professional.
Once decay has set in, an infected tooth can have serious consequences if not taken care of.
It is important to know that if it is left untreated, dental decay can spread to the roots of the tooth, leading to severe pain, discoloured teeth, bad breath, weakened gums and eventual loss of a tooth, which is why you must visit a dentist regularly so they can detect and treat tooth decay early on in order to prevent serious dental problems from occurring.
Since prevention is better than cure, eating healthy and regularly brushing your teeth are fundamental to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Taking a few basic steps to maintain good oral hygiene will go a long way towards helping you avoid any dental problems caused by tooth decay.
Impacted wisdom teeth
Most people have heard of wisdom teeth and know that they can cause dental pain, but do you really understand why?
Wisdom teeth are typically the last molars to develop in a person’s mouth, usually appearing between the ages of 17-25. As these teeth grow, they often don’t have enough room in the jaw to emerge properly.
Consequently, these impacted teeth may become misaligned or only partially erupt through your gum line, causing swelling and inflammation as bacteria accumulates at the site of eruption. This leads to excruciating pain as well as an array of other issues that, if left untreated, can become severe and require complex dental treatment to correct.
Ultimately, impacted wisdom teeth often require a tooth extraction procedure carried out by a skilled dentist to reduce pain and maintain optimal oral health.
Gum disease
Do you have bleeding, sore or red gums? Do you experience pain when chewing or have blisters on the insides of your mouth?
If so, you may have gum disease. This common dental condition is usually caused by poor dental hygiene and, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss, receding gums and other serious health issues down the road.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a common condition that affects the gums. It is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque in between the teeth, which leads to an inflammation of the gum tissue.
Symptoms include redness or bleeding when brushing or flossing, along with bad breath and tenderness in areas of swollen gums.
Gingivitis can lead to more serious conditions if it is left untreated, such as advanced periodontal diseases.
In order to prevent the risk of serious damage, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits such as brushing twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste, and flossing regularly.
With proper care and regular visits to the dentist, gingivitis can be prevented and treated before it becomes a more serious issue.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is an advanced form of gingivitis. It takes the form of inflammation of the soft and hard structures that support the teeth. It affects not only the gums but also up to two-thirds of the supporting bone around the affected tooth.
Although it frequently happens in adults, recent evidence has suggested that periodontitis can develop as early as adolescence in some cases.
Periodontitis should be managed professionally and promptly by a skilled and experienced dentist. Treatment usually involves overall oral hygiene improvement, along with a range of treatments from non-surgical therapies such as scaling and root planing to surgical treatments and, in advanced stages, even tissue or bone regeneration techniques or perhaps replacement of teeth. In any case, regular follow-up appointments are key for managing periodontitis successfully.
Bruxism
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a condition that affects many people all over the world. It can appear in both adults and children and can cause constant wear down of your teeth if left untreated.
Bruxism can weaken your teeth over time as the enamel gets worn away due to the constant friction from grinding. This wearing down of dental enamel leaves teeth exposed to bacteria and other harmful substances that can lead to toothaches
While bruxism may be difficult to spot on an individual basis, there are certain warning signs which indicate potential bruxism behaviour, which could include one or more of the following, among many others:
- tooth sensitivity
- audible tooth grinding
- aching jaw muscles and
- headache or facial pain
If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity or a sharp pain while chewing, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. They can diagnose if bruxism or another dental issue is causing your symptoms and provide treatment options accordingly.
Cracked tooth
Cracked toothIf you’ve ever experienced sharp, stabbing pain when biting down or eating something hot or cold, you may have a cracked tooth. But what is a cracked tooth, exactly? It is a crack of varying lengths and depths that appears on the surface of your tooth.
While many people have fine ones that require no treatment, some may have minor ones that are easily treatable with fluoride toothpaste, while others may be large enough to require tooth extraction surgery.
Chipped or broken tooth
Teeth can chip or break due to a variety of causes.
External trauma such as contact sports, car accidents, and falls can definitely contribute to chipping or fracturing teeth, as well as biting on hard foods or objects.
Although not as common as external trauma-caused fractures and chipping, dental decay from poor oral hygiene will also lead to the weakening of teeth and can thus cause them to chip or break.
Chipping and breaking of teeth can have serious health implications if left untreated and can cause extreme pain.
This is because the delicate and hard outer enamel of the tooth has been removed due to trauma, leaving the inner layer, called dentin, exposed.
The dentin has many nerve endings that are accessed when it is damaged, which causes discomfort and pain.
In addition to the physical pain felt from a chipped or broken tooth, there is also an increased risk of infection since liquid and food can get into the inner layers of an exposed tooth more easily and make the tooth pain worse. It is important to seek treatment for a cracked or broken tooth as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage, moral distress, and potential infection.
Displaced dental fillings
Dental fillings can become dislodged for a number of reasons, such as
- they have been in place for many years and are worn out
- the structure of the tooth has changed over time
- Other causes include
- using overly hard-bristled toothbrushes,
- grinding teeth while you sleep,
- failing to maintain regular brushing and flossing habits
- biting something hard
When a filling becomes dislodged, it exposes weak and sensitive areas of the tooth that were previously covered by the filling material.
This can lead to further decay and increased sensitivity in the affected teeth, leading to intense pain and discomfort.
To remedy the problem, it is best to consult a dentist in order to identify any underlying sources of decay that may have caused the initial dislodging. The dentist can then recommend appropriate treatment options, such as redoing the filling or replacing it with a crown or other restorative device. Taking timely action ensures that dental problems are quickly resolved, and overall oral health is maintained.
Sinusitis
Have you ever had a headache that won’t go away or dull pain in your face, jaw, or teeth? It could be sinusitis – an inflammation of the inner lining of the sinuses that line the inside of the nasal canals and connect with other cavities and tissues in and around the nose and are located close to the jaw.
A sinus infection can lead to discomfort and even pain in your teeth due to inflammation, pressure, and fluid accumulation in the sinuses.
The maxillary sinuses are located behind the cheeks near the upper teeth, so when they become infected, they can cause direct pressure on the nearby teeth.
This, in turn, can lead to toothache as a result of the resulting swelling or congestion pressing on the root ends of nearby teeth. It is important to seek medical attention if you suspect that a sinus infection may be causing your toothache.
Regardless of the cause, toothaches can be painful and worrisome. It is essential to correctly identify and address the issue right away before it has a chance to worsen.
Experienced Dentists Relieve Your Tooth Pain!
Call us today to book an appointment with our knowledgeable and compassionate dentists, who will help relieve pain caused by any of the reasons discussed above. We make sure that our patients receive the highest standard of care in a comfortable environment so that they can experience a stress-free dental visit.
Our friendly staff members are always happy to answer any questions you may have and provide advice on how best to manage your toothache. Schedule an appointment with us today, and let us help you get back to feeling better! Call us now!
References
Toothaches: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Remedies
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/toothache
Q & A; Nerves and Teeth – The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/19/science/q-a-nerves-and-teeth.html
Toothache: Causes, Symptoms, & Triggers | Orajel™
https://www.orajel.com/en/resource-center/toothache-pain-relief/symptoms-and-causes-of-toothaches
