THE MANY UNDERLYING CAUSES OF TOOTH PAIN
Hardly any experiences can be as painful as having a toothache. That distress can be compounded if you don’t even know exactly what’s causing the tooth pain. No two toothaches are exactly the same, especially because they can stem from multiple different causes. The location of the pain and the extent of your distress can help your dental practitioner in Brunswick, OH to find the underlying reason for your toothache, which will help him or her to find the best method to treat it. The highly skilled dentists at DentalWorks – Brunswick deal with toothaches on a daily basis. We provide quick, innovative remedies to ease your symptoms and improve your dental health. We have compiled this list of typical causes of tooth pain and ways it might be treated:
- FRACTURED TEETH
Cracking a tooth isn’t too difficult. A tooth can be broken or fractured playing a sport, taking a bite of something hard (like hard candy), in an accident, and even by tooth grinding. When serious pain is experienced, that is a definite sign that a crack has worked its way down to the tooth’s center, which is where its nerves are found. Sometimes, however, the pain can be postponed, simply to begin quite a while after the incident happened, once it has worsened. That is the reason it’s important to get tooth cracks and fractures addressed by your dental practitioner in Brunswick, OH sooner rather than later.
- DENTAL ABSCESSES
In addition to impacting the inside of the tooth, untreated infection in your tooth can also harm the nearby gum tissue. Referred to as an abscess, it could cause a throbbing pain in the tooth. The widespread nature of the pain may make it difficult to pin point exactly which tooth is problematic. Should you suspect you might be developing a tooth infection, it is important that you speak to a dentist in Brunswick, OH right away. Putting off treatment can lead to the loss of this tooth and even areas of your gum tissue and jaw.
- GUM DISEASE
A dull ache in your mouth and gums that bleed easily are symptoms of gum (periodontal) disease. Once you begin to experience tooth a toothache, you are probably experiencing the advanced stage of gum disease, called periodontitis. To clean out infection, gum surgery is usually done to unseal and clean out the gum pockets. A round of antibiotics is typically prescribed to address potential left-behind bacteria.
- ILL-FITTING DENTAL RESTORATIONS
Ill-fitting or broken dental restorations may lead to relatively intense tooth pain. Anyone who has a dental crown, bridge, or dentures ought to be seeing a dentist in Brunswick, OH two or more times a year to get the condition and fit of the dental restoration evaluated. Patients who are feeling pain in or near the restoration need to schedule an appointment with their dentist. An inflammation or other type of issue may have formed around the restoration that will have to be dealt with to bring back dental health.
- BRUXISM
Bruxism, popularly known as teeth grinding, may produce pain in your jaws, teeth, and even neck muscles, as well as in other nearby muscles. Patients in Brunswick, OH who have bruxism usually experience it while sleeping or under stress. Tooth grinding occurs with the upper and lower jaws tightly pressed together, so the upper and lower teeth are ground against each other, which can result in pain, dental chips and cracks, tooth erosion, as well as headaches. Using a custom-made night mouth guard overnight is among the most effective methods to decrease the impact of teeth grinding on your teeth and jaw.
- CAVITIES
Among the most common culprits behind a toothache is a cavity, or “pit”. If left untreated, a cavity in the outer enamel of the tooth will extend into the tender inner pulp. Once air or other various irritants reach the nerves inside the tooth, you may start to experience pain and sensitivity. Based upon the extent of decay in the tooth, you may require a tooth-colored filling or root canal surgery to remove any infection and maintain the tooth.
- HEAT AND COLD SENSITIVITY
Experiencing a piercing pain when consuming a food or drink that is too hot or too cold is called tooth sensitivity. Though you might have mild tooth sensitivity every now and then, when it is a consistent problem or is creating serious toothaches, it may be a sign of a significant issue. In most cases, tooth sensitivity results from a tooth infection, an abscess, or even periodontal disease. As soon as your dentist diagnoses the reason for your temperature sensitivity, he or she will be able to go over treatment options. If you experience mild or infrequent pain from tooth sensitivity, you should use a toothpaste that is specially designed for sensitive teeth.
- CROOKED OR IMPACTED TEETH
Soreness and pains in the mouth can happen if teeth are misaligned, which can make them wedge in against each other. Impacted teeth could also cause tooth pain. To treat this pain, your dentist in Brunswick, OH might recommend an orthodontic treatment to correct your tooth alignment or the removal of an impacted tooth. Ideally, you’re visiting your dental practitioner twice every year for professional cleanings and dental health assessments to ensure they detect problems like an impacted tooth or problematic misalignment before you feel a lot of discomfort.
- ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS
Irritation in the mouth and toothaches are commonly triggered by orthodontic appliances, including braces and retainers, which promote alignment of the teeth. The pain is typically most pronounced right after regular tighten of the arch wire or after a patient gets a new set of aligners. Any discomfort usually subsides in a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help, if necessary. In the event that your pain persists or grows particularly uncomfortable, contact your orthodontist or dentist to talk about whether you need to readjust the orthodontic appliance.
- BRUSHING AND FLOSSING IMPROPERLY
Strangely, most people use too much pressure when brushing and flossing their teeth. This unnecessary pressure may irritate the gums and make them bleed more easily. Eventually, the gums may be worn away, which also causes pain and leaves your teeth unstable. At DentalWorks – Brunswick, the dental team will teach you the best brushing techniques using a soft-bristled toothbrush to reduce your risk of gum recession.
DON’T DISMISS TOOTH PAIN
Besides being extremely uncomfortable, toothaches are also a hassle. However, delaying treatment is usually a terrible idea because it can lead to much larger, more significant dental issues in the long run. At the very first sign of a toothache, we encourage you to reach out to DentalWorks – Brunswick to schedule an appointment at our practice. Our experienced dental professionals are dedicated to assisting our patients in Brunswick, OH achieve their healthiest, most beautiful smiles.
