What's the cause of your toothache?
Having pain in your teeth, jaw, or gums? Dental pain is some of the worst you can experience, if not in intensity then definitely in how greatly it draws your attention! Not only is a toothache miserable, but it’s also stressful as well who knows what’s causing it?
The Waterford Dentist knows, and that’s why we treat every single toothache like it’s a dental emergency. We’ll always try to see you the same day you call so that you can get relief right when you need it. Today we want to talk about the causes of toothaches in order to help you understand what’s causing you to feel so uncomfortable!
How Long Does Your Pain Last?
The duration of pain can tell us a lot about what’s going on. If you’re experiencing short-term pain it probably has triggers like temperature or pressure. The cause of short term pain isn’t always serious, but it definitely can be.
Short Lasting Temperature-Triggered Pain
Does ice cream, soup, coffee, or soda cause a sudden burst of pain in one of your teeth that lasts less than 30 seconds? If so you’re likely dealing with a minor cavity, a filling that’s starting to wear down, or minor gum recession. All of these problems can seem serious, but they aren’t necessarily an immediate emergency, especially if you’ve just started experiencing them.
We can repair fillings, place new fillings, and work to reduce sensitivity at your gumline, so don’t wait this kind of pain will only get worse if left untreated. If you’re experiencing this kind of pain after a dental appointment there’s probably nothing to worry about. It’s common for dental care to trigger some mild inflammation of the roots. Keep an eye on your pain if it lasts longer than a couple of weeks you should schedule an appointment.
Long Lasting Temperature Sensitivity
If your reaction to hot or cold foods lasts longer than 30 seconds there’s probably a serious problem at play: an infected tooth root. When a cavity reaches all the way to the root of your tooth it quickly infects the dental pulp, which is full of nerves and blood vessels. Temperature sensitivity that creates a lasting ache is common when decay becomes this severe.
We’ll need to perform a root canal as soon as possible, but don’t worry you’ll honestly feel a lot better afterward!
Instant Pressure-Triggered Pain
Does biting down on food or chewing cause a sharp pain that shoots through a tooth and down into your jaw? There’s only a few things that could cause this: serious tooth decay, a damaged filling, or a fractured tooth. This kind of intense pain requires treatment as soon as possible!
When tooth decay reaches the root of a tooth it can often cause a lot of pressure when you bite down. It can lead to a cracked tooth, or you could have cracked one a while ago and are finally feeling the consequences. Damaged fillings are serious as well they might be causing subsurface decay or could be on the verge of falling out. Don’t wait to get these kinds of pains addressed!
Lingering Aches In The Jaw And Teeth
Do you grind your teeth? If you’re experiencing this kind of pain you just might be whether you know it or not! A lot of people who suffer from bruxism (grinding, clenching, and gnashing teeth) do it in their sleep. If you’re one of these there’s a good possibility you don’t even know it’s happening!
We can help treat bruxism and the pain it causes with specialized oral appliances. You could be sleeping easy in no time and living without pain using just a simple piece of rubber you wear at night!
Intense Pain Accompanied By Swelling Or Fever
Serious pain that includes swelling, a fever, sensitivity to touch, or a sensation of pressure is probably a dental abscess. These infections happen when a decayed tooth spreads bacteria to the bone and gum around it, creating a pocket of infection that can spread and cause serious pain.
An abscess needs to be treated immediately don’t wait around for it to get better: the results could be bone, tissue, and even tooth loss!
Don’t Let Pain Linger Contact Us Today!
We always want our patients to get relief as soon as they feel pain no matter the cause! If you’re experiencing a toothache of any variety we’ll get you in as soon as possible, so don’t hesitate to contact us today!
You can reach our Waterford dentist office by calling (248) 674-0495. We look forward to helping you feel your best!