Toothache can be irritating at best and debilitating at worst. It can prevent sleep and even all daily activities. A toothache is caused when the nerve in the tooth root or surrounding the tooth is inflamed or irritated. A toothache can affect one tooth or several teeth at a time.
Unless the underlying cause of toothache is treated, it can persist for days, even weeks. If you have a persistent toothache it is imperative that you visit your dentist. There are several reasons for a toothache and in this article, we discuss the top reasons…
- Tooth Decay: This is one of the commonest causes of toothache and can affect any of us. If your tooth hurts continually it may mean that the decay is quite deep and has reached the inner layer of the tooth, called the dentin. Once the dentin is damaged, the tooth becomes very sensitive and typically, a cavity develops. If the pain is sharp as opposed to a dull ache, the decay may have affected the center of the tooth.
- Tooth Abscess: If your tooth decay is not treated, it can affect the root of the tooth and the root and surrounding tissue can become infected, resulting in a tooth abscess. This typically results in continuous, severe, pulsating pain, which may make it difficult to pinpoint the exact tooth that is infected. A tooth abscess is a very serious issue that needs to be treated immediately by your dentist.
- Gum Disease: This may result in red, bleeding gums, dull pain in the mouth, and often, tooth pain. This pain may be due to the gums and surrounding bone becoming inflamed. This should be treated thoroughly, otherwise, your gum, teeth, and bones could be damaged or lost.
- Tooth Fractures: This could be a chipped tooth or a complete fracture. A tooth fracture can be due to varied reasons, including biting something hard or sticky or then, playing contact sports. If you have a fractured tooth, this could result in excruciating pain, mainly due to the fact that the nerve endings in the middle of the tooth have been affected. You should visit your dentist immediately, as this is a dental emergency.
- Sensitivity to Temperature: If you are experiencing pain in your teeth immediately during or after drinking or eating something cold or hot, you may have tooth sensitivity. This may mean that your tooth enamel has worn down and your tooth’s dentin, where all your nerves lie, is exposed. You need to protect your nerves from extreme temperatures by using a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth.
- Damaged Fillings: Dental fillings help protect the vulnerable parts of your tooth. When these are damaged, these sensitive parts of your teeth are exposed to bacteria, food particles, and extreme temperatures. This can result in either dull, aching pain or sharp, piercing pain. If you have a damaged filling, you need to visit your dentist immediately to have it fixed, otherwise, it could permanently damage your tooth.
- Teeth Grinding: This is also called Bruxism. It is often responsible for tooth, neck, jaw, and related muscle pain. Teeth grinding typically takes place when you are sleeping or are in a stressful situation. If you are grinding your teeth, you are most likely clenching your jaw and grinding your top and bottom teeth against each other. This can result in sore jaw bones and joints, cracked and chipped teeth, and headaches. One solution is to wear a custom mouthguard when asleep.
- Misaligned Teeth: Teeth that are misaligned can press against other teeth, pushing them out of line as well, resulting in pain. Also, impacted wisdom teeth can fail to break through the gum line and can result in extreme pain. You should consult your dentist for these conditions. For misaligned teeth, your dentist will probably come up with an orthodontic solution, whereas for impacted wisdom teeth, you may need surgery.
- Misalignment of Braces and Retainers: These typically result in some discomfort and in extreme cases, aching pain. For the first few days that braces and retainers are inserted, there could be some discomfort. However, this subsides after some time. In case the pain continues and is rather uncomfortable, you need to visit your orthodontist for an adjustment of your braces and retainers.
So, there are the top reasons for a toothache. The latter should not be ignored because not only does it reduce your quality of life, but it could be a precursor to something more severe. This is especially true when a toothache occurs in children. Dental care for children is a priority, both for their “milk” teeth as well as their permanent teeth. Both adults and children should visit their dentist at least once in six months. However, if they suffer from toothache, they should visit their dentist as a dental emergency.
At Vistadent, the multispecialty orthodontic clinic, we not only treat patients of all age groups but also teach them easy, homemade techniques for treating common symptoms. However, if your toothache persists, you should consult us immediately.
The clinic sources the best and most advanced dental instruments from the United States, Germany, and Japan, to treat all dental conditions. We, at Vistadent, follow international standards, ensuring strict hygiene and safe dental care. So, the next time you have a toothache or any other dental condition or problem, you know that visiting Vistadent is the right thing to do!
For more information about a toothache or any other dental problems, as well as other dental procedures, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net.