Toothaches are a dreadful pain that no one wishes to experience. No matter how conscientious you are about your dental hygiene, at some point in your life, you will probably be faced with dental discomfort. Here are reasons why you could be experiencing a toothache:
Tooth Decay
The most common reason most people go through the agony of a toothache is simply that of tooth decay from improper brushing or flossing. In order for the tooth to feel pain, the decay has to reach the inner layer of the tooth, called the dentin. When decay comes into contact with the dentin, the tooth becomes extremely sensitive and a cavity can develop. Cavities need to be quickly addressed because it can lead to bigger dental issues.
Tooth Abscess
When tooth decay is not properly taken care of, it advances to the point of affecting the root under the tooth. When the root becomes infected, it results in a torturing pain that makes it hard to carry on with your daily life. This is very serious and needs to be professionally dealt with as soon as possible as it can result in bone and tissue loss.
Gum Disease
When you notice bleeding, bright red gums, and severe pain, this could be characterized as gum disease. This happens when bacteria infects the bone structure at the base of the teeth and your gums causing it to inflame. If left untreated, teeth, gums, and bones could be damaged or lost, and surgical measures may have to be taken to remove the infection.
Tooth Fracture
Teeth are a very delicate and can easily be cracked or chipped. If you feel pain in a chipped tooth, that means the fracture has found its way to the middle of the teeth where your nerve endings are and causes extreme pain. Before a crack in your tooth worsens and causes you more pain, it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible!
Temperature Sensitivity
When your tooth enamel starts to wear down, some of your teeth may already have exposed nerves, which trigger pain when you eat hot or cold foods. This is mainly caused by whitening your teeth. To help protect your sensitive nerves, try a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne.
Teeth Grinding
It is very common for people to grind their teeth when sleeping or during stressful situations. Teeth grinding involves clenching the jaw and rubbing your top and bottom teeth back and forth against one another. The best way to prevent your teeth from grinding is wearing a mouthguard as you sleep, and it will help relieve the stress on your teeth and jaw.
Damaged Fillings
The only way to prevent decay from happening is getting a dental filling that covers the deep pits, grooves or fractures in the tooth. When this protectant is damaged, the sensitive parts of your teeth are exposed to bacteria, which causes a sharp pain in your mouth.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that have failed to break through the gums. This can be extremely painful since they push against your other teeth and cause pressure.
Orthodontic Alignment
Those who have gotten braces or retainers have felt the awful discomfort, as it is a way to align your teeth properly. The pain typically occurs after adjustments which tighten and move the teeth, but it wears off after a couple of days, when the teeth start moving into place.
A simple dental exam can determine what is going on if you are feeling a toothache. It is important to address your pain sooner than later so it doesn’t turn into a bigger problem. If you are experiencing a toothache, contact us today so we can schedule you an appointment!