Tooth pain has a variety of causes, but thanks to modern dentistry, each cause has a solution. The type of pain you are feeling—sharp, dull, or throbbing—can be an indication of exactly what is causing your toothache. You can type your symptoms into WebMD to find the cause of your toothache, but an accurate diagnosis can only come from a dental professional.
At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, Dr. Matthew L. Bridges will use his dental expertise to relieve your toothache, determine the cause, and create a preventative dental plan to keep the pain from returning. A toothache should never be ignored. Contact our Duncan, OK office today at (580) 255-4880 to schedule an appointment.
Exercise, sinuses, and other health problems can cause toothaches, but these are much less common. Here, we will discuss the top five causes of toothache.
1. Tooth decay
When bacteria eat away at the enamel on your teeth, it’s called tooth decay. This alone can cause pain and leads to dental sensitivity and cavities. As the cavity grows and moves closer to the nerves inside your teeth, the pain worsens.
If possible, you should visit Dr. Bridges before a cavity forms. The initial stages of tooth decay typically only require a deep dental cleaning or a filling. Cavities may require more extensive procedures like a crown or a root canal.
2. Wisdom teeth
Most peoples’ wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. If there isn’t enough space for the wisdom teeth to erupt, you will most likely experience pain, inflammation, infection, or a combination of the three. If this is the case, you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed. However, if your mouth hurts simply because the wisdom teeth are erupting, over-the-counter pain medicine can relieve your pain.
Visit with Dr. Bridges to learn if your toothache is caused by improper development of your wisdom teeth or erupting wisdom teeth.
3. Bruxism
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can be caused by stress, anxiety, malocclusion, or other medical conditions. If you wake up with a dull headache, sore face, and/or tight jaw, you may suffer from TMJ disorder. Dr. Bridges can assess your jaw for the cause of your bruxism and recommend the appropriate treatment.
4. Fractured tooth
Car accidents, sports injuries, and eating hard foods can cause you to break a tooth. Even if the fracture is small, you should contact your dentist immediately to learn if it can be repaired or if the tooth root has been damaged. Any amount of trauma to your tooth will cause pain, but if the tooth root has been damaged, you will most likely experience greater and prolonged pain.
5. Receding gums
Gum recession is typically a sign of gum disease. If your tooth pain arises when you eat hot or cold foods, it may be a result of receding gums. When the gums pull away from the teeth, the tooth roots become exposed. Because the roots aren’t protected by enamel, certain substances can trigger pain.
Contact Your Duncan, OK Dentist Today
Whatever the cause of your toothache, Dr. Bridges is prepared to relieve your pain. Our dental practice offers a variety of restorative dental treatments to get to the root of the problem and keep it from happening again. Schedule an appointment with one of our team members today at (580) 255-4880.
