Are you having a toothache? It’s easy to push through short-lived pain, but sometimes it can linger for days or weeks. Dental pain can disrupt your daily routine and make it difficult to focus on anything else. The intensity of tooth pain varies, depending on the cause of it.
Understanding why your tooth hurts is crucial for diagnosis and treatment, as well as for preventing future problems.
What causes a toothache?
1. Tooth Decay
A cavity is formed when tooth decay destroys the inside of your tooth due to poor oral hygiene. This can cause tooth pain and may also result in tooth loss. Fillings are a common solution for cavities, but be sure to consult with your dentist before deciding on a course of treatment. Try to use fluoride toothpaste to avoid cavities.
2. Dental Abscess
An untreated infected tooth or abscess can cause throbbing pain. If you have a fever in addition to the sharp pain, this may require antibiotics and drainage of the abscess by your dentist. In some cases, a root canal is required.
3. Tooth Sensitivity
If you have tooth sensitivity that only occurs when your teeth come in contact with liquids, cold air, or food, it is likely due to receding gums or thinning of the tooth enamel.
4. Dental Injury
If you have recently chipped your tooth on something hard, you may be experiencing pain or increased sensitivity to hot, cold, sour, and sweet food. A broken tooth or a cracked tooth is considered a medical emergency.
5. Recent Dental Work
After a recent dental work done, such as teeth whitening, filling or a root canal treatment, it is normal to experience some temporary inflammation and pain in the pulp tissues of the affected tooth. You can take over-the-counter pain medications to help manage tooth pain.
6. Wisdom Teeth
Removal of wisdom teeth is common, as they often grow in ways that impact other teeth or fail to break through the gumline. This usually causes inflammation and pain not only near the gums but also in the jaw and ear area, especially in the case of an impacted tooth. To ease discomfort and relieve pain, take over-the-counter medication.
7. Sinus Congestion
If you have a cold, flu, or allergies and are experiencing sinus congestion, you may feel severe pain or pressure in your upper teeth. It is because they are close to the sinuses. To ease this discomfort, you can take a decongestant, but if it is a sinus infection, you may need a course of antibiotics to clear it.
8. Gum Disease
8. Gum DiseaseGingivitis and periodontal disease can also trigger terrible tooth pain. It causes inflammation, irritation, and redness around the gums. When plaque builds up along the gum line and causes infection, toothaches associated with gingivitis can start. If the infection has reached the jawbone, it can make the pain worse.
Other causes of toothache may include gum infection, teeth grinding (bruxism), and more. If you’re feeling any discomfort or pain in your teeth or jaw, we recommend getting proper dental treatment as soon as possible. Delayed treatment can cause more severe, life-threatening problems to develop.
Schedule an appointment with Total Care Dental Studio on (07) 3186 8517 today so we can figure out what’s causing your dental problems.
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Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Toothache
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/#:~:text=Causes%20of%20toothache&text=a%20cracked%20or%20damaged%20tooth,problems%20with%20your%20braces
An Overview of toothaches
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/toothache#:~:text=A%20toothache%20or%20tooth%20pain,(tooth%20is%20pulled%20out)
