Suffering from a toothache can be a miserable experience. Aches and pains in your mouth can make simple things like eating and talking extremely difficult. From cavities to fractured teeth, there are a number of possible reasons behind why you’re experiencing pain. All of them are good enough reasons to pay a visit to your neighborhood dental clinic.
Below are some of the most common causes of toothaches that might explain why you’re feeling what you’re feeling and what you can do about it:
Tooth Decay
The most common reason behind a toothache is tooth decay. This occurs when the structure of your tooth is compromised by acids from plaque bacteria. Eventually, the bacteria breaks down too much mineral off from the outer surface of your teeth, known as enamel, which creates a hole in the tooth and renders it highly sensitive. If left untreated, it could become infected which necessitates a root canal procedure. This treatment involves removing nerve and pulp in the inside of the tooth and cleaning it then sealing up the tooth.
Tooth Fracture
You might be experiencing pain in your tooth because you might’ve cracked or broken it. This could happen if you’ve been dealt a forceful blow to the face or if you’ve bitten on something hard. Depending on how bad the crack is, you might feel varying levels of pain. The kind of treatment your dentist will recommend hinges on how big the size of the crack is, where it happened, and how much pain you’re feeling. The less severe cracks might only need to be filled with plastic resin. If your case is more complicated, you might need to either undergo tooth extraction or be fitted with a dental crown or a cap, tooth extraction
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a common sleep-related disorder that may be caused by anxiety and stress, sleep apnea, or an abnormal bite. Without treatment, chronic teeth grinding can lead to the loosening and fracturing of teeth. Most dentists will fit you with a night guard to be worn on your mouth while you sleep. You might also be prescribed treatment for your anxiety and stress to stop you from grinding your teeth.
Gum Disease
What you think is tooth pain might actually be gum pain. Gingivitis is a common form of gum disease caused by poor oral hygiene. This allows an excessive build-up of plaque bacteria on both the teeth and gums which irritates the gums and causes them to become inflamed and in some cases, infected. Your dentist will treat gingivitis by scaling your teeth and then recommending a strict and thorough oral hygiene regimen which you should follow.
Improper Tooth Brushing
Sometimes, the issue might not even be within your teeth, but how you treat them. You might just be flossing or brushing your teeth with too much force and with the wrong kind of toothbrush. This leads to inflamed and irritated gums. Make sure to use only soft-bristle toothbrushes and avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth and gums when you brush them or floss them. You can consult your dentist to learn more about the proper way to brush your teeth.
Tooth pain can be incredibly uncomfortable, but knowing what’s causing it early on will help you successfully treat the issue.