Typical Causes And The Best Solutions For Toothaches

Common Causes Of Tooth Pain

ALL THE MANY CAUSES OF TOOTH PAIN

Very few experiences can be as uncomfortable as suffering from a toothache. That discomfort can be multiplied if you don’t even realize exactly what's causing the toothache. Not all toothaches are the same, mainly because they can stem from many different causes. The position of the pain and the amount of your discomfort can help your dentist in Houston, TX to zero in on the reason for your tooth pain, which will allow him or her to determine the optimal way to treat it so you can bring back your most attractive smile. The experienced dentists at MINT dentistry in Elmsworth deal with tooth pain every day. We perform quick, effective remedies to alleviate your symptoms and increase your dental health. We have compiled a list of routine reasons behind tooth pain and ways it could be treated:

  • TOOTH DECAY
    Among the most typical reasons for an aching tooth is decay. When not treated properly, decay in the enamel of the tooth can eventually reach the tender inner pulp. After air and other types of irritants reach the nerves inside the tooth, you may start to feel pain and heat and cold sensitivity. Depending upon the degree of decay, you could need a filling or root canal surgery to deal with any infection and save the tooth.
  • ABSCESSED TOOTH
    In addition to spreading to the inside of the tooth, ignored infection can also reach the nearby gum tissue. Known as an abscess, this may lead to a pulsating pain in your tooth. The generalized nature of the pain will sometimes make it hard to deduce exactly which tooth is the center of the pain. If you suspect you could have an abscessed tooth, it is crucial that you speak to a dentist in Houston, TX soon. Delaying treatment could result in the loss of the tooth and even areas of your gum tissue and jawbone.
  • HEAT AND COLD SENSITIVITY
    Experiencing a piercing pain when eating or drinking a food or drink that is hot or cold is called tooth sensitivity. While many individuals may have slight tooth sensitivity sometimes, if it is a continuous problem or is creating severe toothaches, it can be an indication of a serious issue. Typically, tooth sensitivity is caused by an infection in the tooth, an abscess, or periodontal disease. Once your dentist finds the reason for your tooth sensitivity, he or she will be able to tell you your treatment recommendations. In the case of mild or occasional pain from tooth sensitivity, you might want to use a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for sensitive teeth.
  • BRUXISM
    Bruxism, commonly called teeth grinding, may lead to pain in your teeth, jaw, and neck, plus other nearby muscles. Individuals in Houston, TX who grind their teeth frequently do it while sleeping or in times of stress. Tooth grinding occurs with the upper and lower jaws tightly pressed together, so the upper and lower teeth are crushed against each other, which could cause pain, dental chips and tiny fissures, tooth erosion, and head pain. Wearing a custom-made night guard when sleeping is among the best methods to decrease the damage of bruxism on the teeth and jaw.
  • BRUSHING AND FLOSSING TOO HARD
    Strangely, most people push too hard when brushing and flossing their teeth. This unnecessary roughness can inflame the gums and make them bleed more easily. Over time, the gums may be worn away, which also produces pain and leaves your teeth loose. At MINT dentistry in Elmsworth, the dental staff will show you the best brushing pressure using a soft-bristled toothbrush to reduce your chances of gum recession.
  • DAMAGED DENTAL RESTORATIONS
    Poorly fitting or broken dental restorations might lead to relatively significant toothaches. Those who have a crown, bridge, or dentures should be seeing a dentist in Houston, TX at least twice a year to get the wear and fit of the dental restoration monitored. Individuals who are having pain in or around the restoration should set up a visit to their dental practitioner. An infection or other type of issue may have developed beneath the restoration, which will have to be dealt with to bring back dental health.
  • PERIODONTITIS
    A dull pain in your teeth along with gums that bleed easily can often be indicators of gum (periodontal) disease. Once you begin to experience tooth pain, you are probably in the latest stage of gum disease, referred to as periodontitis. To rid the tooth of infection, gum surgery is usually performed to unseal and scrape out the gum pockets. A cycle of antibiotics is often prescribed to tackle potentially left-behind bacteria.
  • CROOKED OR IMPACTED TEETH
    Aches and discomfort in the jaws can happen if teeth are misaligned, which can cause them to exert force against one another. Teeth that are impacted could also result in tooth pain. To address this pain, your dentist in Houston, TX might need to perform an orthodontic treatment to enhance your tooth alignment or the removal of an impacted tooth. Hopefully, you're seeing your dental practitioner twice per year for professional cleanings and oral health exams to allow them to catch issues like impacted teeth or significant misalignment early, before you are in too much discomfort.
  • CHIPPED TEETH
    Cracking a tooth isn't uncommon. A tooth may be broken or cracked playing sports, chewing something hard (such as hard candy), in an accident, and perhaps by bruxism. When serious pain is present, that is a definite red flag that a fracture has made its way down to the tooth’s center, where the nerves live. Many times, however, the pain is delayed, simply to start up long after the fracture happened, once it has become more expansive. That is the reason it's crucial to get tooth chips and fractures treated by your dentist in Houston, TX sooner rather than later.
  • ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS
    Pain in the mouth and toothaches are frequently caused by orthodontic appliances, such as braces and retainers, which are used for tooth alignment. The discomfort is typically worst right after regular tightening of the archwire or after you move to another set of aligners. The discomfort generally goes away within a few days. Non-prescription painkillers may help as well if necessary. If your pain doesn't go away or grows extremely uncomfortable, get in touch with your orthodontist or dentist to discuss whether you need to readjust the dental appliance.

YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE TOOTH PAIN

Beyond being exceptionally painful, toothaches are also inconvenient. Still, delaying treatment is generally not the best idea because it can result in even worse, more problematic dental issues in the future. At the initial sign of a toothache, we encourage you to get in touch with MINT dentistry in Elmsworth to schedule a comprehensive exam at our practice. Our highly trained dental professionals are passionate about helping our patients in Houston, TX attain their healthiest, most beautiful smiles.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.