Are you experiencing tooth pain? If so, you need to call your dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment. Here, our Whitehorse dentists share a few of the most common causes for tooth pain and some of the things you can do to manage your pain until your dental appointment.
The Most Common Causes of Tooth Pain
It doesn't matter if your tooth pain is only minor or serious, you still need to have your dentist diagnose the cause quickly. In many situations, a proactive oral hygiene routine should prevent any discomfort or toothaches from arising. But, there are many possible causes for tooth or gum pain such as:
Tooth Decay/ Cavity
Cavities usually develop gradually over time, but the pain can come on suddenly. We recommend addressing this issue as fast as you can in order to prevent any infections.
Trauma, Injury, or Grinding
Fractured or damaged teeth can be very painful, whether you grind your teeth in your sleep and gradually wear them down, or you get injured while playing sports. You should never ignore this pain! Your dentist may recommend treating this type of condition with a filling, crown, or bonding.
Grinding could also cause tooth sensitivity. Ask your dentist for advice on how you can break this dangerous habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they often become quite painful due to the pressure they inflict on the surrounding teeth or infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to secondary issues including tooth damage and crowding if there isn’t enough space for them to erupt properly.
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.
Gum Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) can range from early-stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist may treat your gingivitis with a procedure called scaling and root planing – the process of 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 Possible Reasons
You should know that some people can experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t always signal a severe problem.
Using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth could help. We also recommend avoiding extremely hot or cold food and drinks until your sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this could be a sign of a more serious issue, such as gum recession, and you should contact your dentist immediately.
There are also times the issue that’s causing your tooth pain may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
However, it’s still worth it to schedule an appointment with your dentist as ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious issues. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.
How to Manage 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 home remedies for tooth pain you can try. Apply an ice pack or taking over-the-counter pain medication to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.