Toothache: Top Causes, Symptoms, and Triggers

Toothache- Top Causes, Symptoms, and Triggers | Dentist Nambour Even if you take outstanding care of your teeth, you probably know the pain and discomfort a toothache can bring. Knowing what’s causing your toothache is the first step to getting treatment and making the pain go away.

While most people immediately think they have a cavity at the first sign of sensitivity or pain, there are a host of reasons you could be experiencing pain.

Not all of them are fixed by a trip to the dentist (most of them are!), but if you’re feeling tooth pain or sensitivity in the mouth or teeth area, schedule an appointment with your Smiles Nambour dentist as soon as possible.

The Different Symptoms Of Toothaches

  1. Pain When You Bite Down
    If you feel a sharp shooting or stabbing pain when you bite down, the cause could be a cavity, a cracked, fractured or broken tooth, an abscess, or another kind of infection.
  2. Pain or Sensitivity When Eating Cold or Hot foods
    Sensitive teeth can be caused by several things: your tooth enamel may be thinning, your gums may be receding, or your teeth may be cracked.
  3. Pain with Fever or Swelling
    A toothache that is also accompanied by fever or swelling usually indicates an infection and should prompt you to seek dental treatment as soon as possible.

The Top 10 Toothache Causes

  • Cavity– Dental caries or tooth decay occurs when bacteria eat away tooth structure. The deeper the cavity, the more pain, in most cases.
  • Gum Disease– Infection of the gum tissue in which bacteria attack gums at and below the gum line. Gums become sore, red, swollen, and can bleed when brushing. Gums may recede, pulling away from teeth roots to cause sensitivity at the gum line.
  • Cracks, Fractures, Chips– Usually results from pressure of biting, chewing, or a blow to the mouth. When a crack or chip extends deeper than the enamel, pain becomes more intense. A fracture that reaches to the tooth root can allow for internal infection and eventually require a root canal.
  • Internal Infection– When the inner canal of a tooth encounters bacteria, the bacteria thrive and pressure builds to create acute pain.
  • Sensitivity – Thin tooth enamel, receding gums, or an internal infection can cause tooth sensitivity. Some people are sensitive to cold and hot, while others are sensitive to pressure.
  • Failed Filling or Crown– Dental work, unfortunately, does not last forever. Crowns, fillings, and bridges can all wear out with time. When a dental restoration becomes compromised, the affected tooth can become painful.
  • Impacted Wisdom Tooth – When third molars cannot erupt, but become lodged in the jaw, they can become infected and painful. Wisdom teeth can also push up against nearby teeth, causing pain in them.
  • Abscess– An abscess is a pocket of infection that can develop in gum tissue, in the jawbone tissue, or inside a tooth’s pulp
  • Trauma – Injury to the mouth can cause a tooth to crack, chip, or loosen. It may also cause gum tissue damage and resulting mouth pain.
  • TMJ Disorder – When jaw joints are misaligned, they cannot find a comfortable resting position. This causes jaw muscles to be overworked, which in turn leads to jaw spasms, often while the patient sleeps. The condition is called bruxism, and it contributes to tooth wear and breakage, which causes toothaches.
  • Sinusitis – Pain on both sides of your face but located only in your upper teeth could result from a sinus infection. In this case, you’ll usually notice other symptoms that occur before your teeth start hurting or along with your toothache.

Common Toothache Triggers

Certain behaviors and foods may trigger the onset of tooth pain or make an existing toothache worse. It may be necessary to consult a dental service provider to manage trigger activities. Potential triggers include the following:

  • Biting into something hard
  • Cold or hot foods and beverages
  • Candy or sweet foods
  • Clenching teeth or putting pressure on the affected tooth

Is There A Way To Prevent A Toothache?

The key to preventing toothaches is establishing a regular oral hygiene routine and sticking to it. For example, failure to brush and floss regularly after meals can significantly increase your risk of developing cavities, which can cause toothaches.

Here are a few tips to help reduce your risk for developing a toothache:

  • Brush at least twice a day, preferably after meals and snacks.
  • Floss at least once a day to prevent gum disease.
  • Visit your dentist regularly.

Dentistry at Smiles Nambour

If you have a toothache, it’s critical to find a dentist who can offer you relief and treatment. At Smiles Nambour we offer emergency appointments for cases of dental emergency, including avulsed teeth.

At Smiles Nambour, we provide top-quality dentistry with the help of cutting-edge instruments and caring staff!

A visit to Smiles Nambour is an investment in your dental health and attractive smile!

Call us today on (07) 5441 4438 or book your see us online.

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