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Tooth pain is no joke! If your teeth are hurting it can disrupt every part of your daily life. In this post, our Vancouver dentists discuss some of the reasons why your teeth are hurting and what you can do about your tooth pain.
What Are Some Possible Reasons For My Tooth Pain?
Whether the toothache pain is minor or severe, you should always have a dentist diagnose its underlying cause as soon as possible. In most cases, a rigorous oral hygiene routine will prevent toothaches or discomfort. However, many potential factors can cause tooth or gum pain, including the following
Cavities or Tooth Decay
Though cavities often happen gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection takes hold.
Grinding, Trauma or Injury to Your Teeth
Whether you grind your teeth at night and gradually wear them down, or you sustain an injury in a more immediate way, such as while playing sports, a fractured or damaged tooth can be extremely painful - don't ignore it. Your dentist may advise you to treat it with a filling, crown, or bonding.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they can be extremely painful due to the pressure they put on the surrounding teeth or infection. If there isn't enough space for wisdom teeth to erupt properly, they can cause tooth damage and crowding.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections may lead to pockets filled with pus. This not only creates painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.
Periodontal Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) can progress from mild to severe. In the early stages of gingivitis, your dentist may treat it with a procedure known as scaling and root planing, which involves removing plaque buildup from the gum line.
For a more urgent case that’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Causes of Tooth Pain
We should note that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth may help. You should also attempt to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this may be cause for more serious concern, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
There are times when the source of your tooth pain is not inside your mouth. Symptoms of a toothache can be caused by viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds.
However, it is still worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your dentist because ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious complications. Most dental pain does not go away on its own and should be evaluated by your dentist.
What Are Some Ways To Relieve Tooth Pain?
If you are wondering how to relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the issue can be diagnosed and treated.
In the meantime, there are a few tooth pain home remedies you can try. To alleviate pain and inflammation, apply an ice pack or take an over-the-counter pain reliever. A saltwater rinse can also help to soothe and relieve tooth pain in some cases.