Top 10 Reasons for a Toothache – Carolina Smile Design

A toothache is not only painful but concerning. Individuals experiencing this pain want to find out the root cause of it instantly.

There are many things that can cause a toothache. Read about some potential causes below:

10. Orthodontic Alignment

The first potential cause only applies to those with braces, retainers, and other dental alignment systems. Pain is usually fairly noticeable right after adjustments which tighten or move teeth, but typically subsides after a few days. If the pain is still extremely uncomfortable and persisting, discuss with your orthodontist about readjusting your orthodontic appliance so that it does not interfere with your daily life.

9. Misaligned Teeth or Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Aches and pains can come from misaligned teeth or impacted wisdom teeth. This is because they can press against other teeth, pushing them out of line as well. These issues should be brought to the attention of your dentist, if they haven’t been addressed yet. For misaligned teeth, an orthodontic solution will likely be proposed, such as braces. For impacted wisdom teeth, surgery will be needed.

8. Improper Brushing or Flossing

In an attempt to get super clean teeth, some people press too hard when they are brushing or flossing. This can cause irritated, inflamed, or bleeding gums. If extreme pressure like this is constantly used, it can cause gums to recede and can make teeth unstable, resulting in more pain. Some ways to prevent this are to use only soft bristled tooth brushes and to use proper brushing techniques.

7. Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a very common reason for tooth, jaw, neck, and related muscle pain. A lot of times, teeth grinders don’t even realize they are doing it because they often grind during sleep or stressful situations. Teeth grinding involves clenching the jaw and grinding the top and bottom teeth back and forth against each other. Some common results of this are sore jaw bones and joints, headaches, and even cracked or chipped teeth. The best course of action to treat bruxism is to have a custom mouthguard made that is worn while sleeping to relieve the stress put on teeth and the jaw.

6. Damaged Fillings or Dental Sealants

A common cause of a toothache are damaged fillings or dental sealants. This damage can cause sudden exposure to factors such as extreme temperatures, food particles, and bacteria. This can result in a pain that is anything from a dull ache to a sharp, piercing sensation. If you have a damaged filling or sealant, be sure to book an appointment with your dentist right away to have it fixed before the vulnerable parts of your teeth suffer more damage.

5. Temperature Sensitivity

If you are experiencing sharp tooth pain during, or very soon after, eating or drinking something that is cold or hot, this is typically associated with tooth sensitivity. This can mean that your tooth enamel has worn down and your tooth’s dentin (the layer where the tooth’s nerves lie) is exposed. Oftentimes, this will happen as a result of teeth whitening. Thankfully there are specific toothpastes for these scenarios. Look for the word ‘sensitive’ on toothpaste tubes or consult us for recommendations and further treatment options.

4. Tooth Fractures

If you fracture your tooth, you will probably extreme pain or a physical piece of missing tooth. If you are feeling this pain in a fractured tooth, that means that the fracture has made its way to the middle of the tooth where the nerve endings are and can result in excruciating pain.

This may not happen as soon as the tooth is chipped or damaged, but can develop over time as the tooth damage worsens. If you experience a fracture, visit us right away.

3. Gum Disease

Gum disease is characterized by a dull pain in the mouth, red, bleeding gums, and also sometimes tooth pain. A common cause of this is the oral bone and gums becoming inflamed. If left untreated, teeth, gums, and bones could be damaged or lost, and surgical measures may have to be taken to rid the mouth of infection.

2. Tooth Abscess

When tooth decay advances to the point of affecting the root beneath the visible tooth there is a high chance that the root and the surrounding tissue have become infected. This will result in a pulsating pain so widespread that it will be hard for you to determine which tooth the pain is emanating from. This is another case in which you should make an appointment with us as soon as possible.

1. Tooth Decay

The most common reason for a painful toothache is plain old tooth decay. Sure, it might not be all that exciting or new, but it’s something that can affect anyone. People experience pain when the decay reaches a layer called the dentin. Once the dentin is damaged the tooth becomes very sensitive and a cavity has developed.

If the pain becomes less of an ache and more of a sharp pain, the tooth decay may have reached the center of the tooth. This results in a very intense pain that makes it difficult to carry on with daily life. These issues need to be addressed as soon as possible as they are not only painful but can quickly lead to bigger dental issues.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms described above and have read through this whole list trying to figure out what might be wrong – call us today. A simple examination can determine what’s going on, and the sooner you do it, the better. Delaying can make a simple problem grow into a larger one just from neglect.

So don’t delay and make an appointment with us today!