There is nothing more irritating or uncomfortable than mouth or tooth pain. With numerous causes of toothaches, it’s important to know how to treat them—in most instances, you can even prevent them. Cal Dental Group lists the possible causes of toothaches below; become familiar with them so you can spot and treat toothache causes as quickly as possible.
Injury or Trauma to the Tooth
If you’re experiencing tooth pain, the most apparent cause is an injury or trauma to the mouth. This may include an object knocking out a tooth after it hits you, falling and hitting your teeth on the ground, or anything else that could break or loosen a tooth. This is the most noticeable because the pain will likely follow immediately after the trauma.
When this happens to you, seek emergency dental care as quickly as possible. When a chunk of tooth breaks off, or the whole tooth comes out, you must preserve it, or you cannot save the tooth. Place the pieces in cow’s milk to keep them from dying, or place the tooth back into the socket. Time is a significant factor here; the quicker you can get to the dentist, the better your chance of saving the injured tooth.
Cavities or Tooth Decay
The top causes of toothaches are cavities or tooth decay. This typically happens when a specific area of your tooth decays from poor dental hygiene and bacteria in the mouth. Here is the scoop—cavities are generally not painful unless it is deep enough to cause sensitivity. Because of this, routine dental visits are necessary to catch cavities or tooth decay in its early stages.
The teeth in your mouth house blood vessels and nerves, so the decay can irritate them and cause these structures to become sensitive. You must treat this toothache by receiving a filling from your dentist. While you wait for an appointment, you can try a saltwater mouth rinse or a cold compress. Pain will likely not resolve itself with medications alone; therefore, dental work is required.
Abscessed or Infected Tooth
Let’s say a cavity goes untreated. Decay can lead to an abscessed or infected tooth. This happens when an infection from tooth decay reaches the tooth’s root, causing swollen gums, possible bone loss, and severe pain. If you leave this abscess in your mouth for too long, the infection could spread to your bloodstream and other areas of your body.
You must seek professional help from a dentist immediately. Some individuals may go to the ER because of immense pain; while you can do that, these medical professionals can only prescribe medication to ease the discomfort until you can reach your dentist. If you need relief as soon as possible, consider using coconut oil topically or internally to help draw out the infection and provide pain relief. However, do not replace this with treatment; you must seek out the proper dental care.
Teeth Grinding
Not only can poor dental hygiene cause toothaches, but so can poor dental habits. Teeth grinding can cause discomfort because you’re putting your jaw muscles through unnecessary strain and excessively wearing down your teeth. You’re most likely to do this activity while you are sleeping. Some individuals may have TMJ, a chronic form of teeth grinding.
While there is no forward solution a dentist could perform to fix this issue, they can work with you to overcome this poor habit. Wearing a mouth guard at night could stop you from grinding and protect your teeth from wear. Furthermore, consider implementing more vitamin-rich foods into your diet to reduce calcium deficiency. Continue to consult with your dentist for other possible solutions for teeth grinding.
Abnormal Bite
A toothache could occur because you have an abnormal bite, meaning your top and bottom teeth do not align. Because of this, you may feel discomfort or pain while chewing or biting something. This hereditary dental condition will likely not cause tooth pain, but it can still occur.
Luckily, an abnormal bite can be corrected with braces, surgery, and other applications. Schedule an appointment with a professional at our dental clinic in Los Angeles, California to discuss solutions with our highly trained staff. Abnormalities in your bite can happen over the course of your life; if this issue is causing discomfort, do not hesitate to talk with your dentist about solutions.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common dental issue among adults in the United States. It is generally caused by poor dental hygiene that allows plaque to build up along your gum line. Plaque and bacteria can cause your gums to swell, bleed, or redden. Oftentimes, there is no discomfort in the early stages of these diseases, but leaving it untreated could lead to pain or tooth loss.
If you currently have some form of gum disease, working with your dentist can help get this issue under control. Prevent the development of this problem by flossing, brushing your teeth twice a day, and using an antibacterial mouthwash. Ensure you are taking proper care of your teeth to avoid gum disease.
Wisdom Teeth
Around adolescence, an extra set of molars can appear in the back of your mouth, both on the upper and lower jaw. These teeth are called wisdom teeth, which can become quite painful when they fail to break through your gums or become impacted. This type of pain will be prominent and can increase depending on the molars’ positions in your mouth.
Wisdom teeth can cause toothaches, but how you treat them is a simple solution—remove them! Do not leave these teeth untreated because they can lead to cysts or tumors. Schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon and consider using coconut oil, salt water, or clove oil to help ease your pain until the appointment.
Overall, having pristine oral hygiene and habits is the number one way to avoid toothaches. Continue your routine dental care and follow the proper teeth brushing and flossing procedures. If you notice any issues with your oral health, call Cal Dental Group and schedule an appointment with us today. Our professional staff would love to help you restore your smile!
