Why Does My Tooth Hurt?
It’s always a dreaded feeling – a toothache. You can feel it come at any time, whether you wake up from a sound sleep with a throbbing tooth or right before a big meeting or just when you’re sitting and watching TV. There are things that you can buy at a drugstore… but you really should be seen by a dental professional. But what exactly is causing the ache?
Your dental professional usually will take you in as an emergency patient within 24 hours of the onset of the pain. If it’s really bad, you may have to opt to go to the emergency room in the interim. But it’s always good to have a clear idea in your head of what exactly could be the culprit so that you can confirm it with your dentist when you see him or her.
Here are some of the reasons that you may have a toothache:
Decay
Your teeth are protected by strong enamel. That enamel can be under constant attack by things ranging from sugar to other types of bacteria. If the enamel is worn down, then the actual dentin of your teeth can decay… which results in a cavity. The deeper the cavity, the more chance that it can reach the root of your tooth… and the result is pain of various severity. Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time can help prevent that from happening – along with flossing to remove any food particles between the teeth.
It’s not just neglecting your oral hygiene that can result in decay. Your tooth may wind up being fractured, whether from trauma or a stress fracture. Abscesses can form under the outer surface of the enamel. If this happens, your dentist or periodontist needs to drain that quickly before you get an infection. Ignoring the problem can led to rapidly-worsening results.
Teeth-Grinding
Teeth-grinding, which is also known as bruxism, is when you grind your upper and lower teeth together while you sleep. It may be something you do when you’re particularly stressed, too, but the main time is at night. You may wake up with sore teeth and a sore jaw. The constant grinding can wear down your enamel and also leave you very open to stress fractures of the teeth.
The solution here is pretty simple. You visit your dentist and they do a fitting for you for a mouth guard. You wear this at night when you are sleeping and it keeps your upper and lower teeth from touching all night. This way, you get to have a much more sound sleep and not worry about waking up in the morning with a sore jaw. The mouthguard is easy to maintain, too.
Infected Gums
This is the most serious out of all the conditions. Your gums will become red and inflamed. Eating and brushing will be painful – and the gums will likely be bleeding. If left unattended, there will be swelling and even an unpleasant taste or odor coming from the affected area. If you notice that you have a fever with the above symptoms, you need to see your dentist immediately.
Why is this so important? Because the infection can let bacteria into the bloodstream and affect not only your teeth but the rest of your body. Diabetes, cancer, and even heart attacks are possible side effects. Your gums and teeth are far from being housed in a self-contained area. Neglecting your oral health can wind up with consequences far more dire than just some lost teeth.
Getting Diagnosed
Feeling tooth pain can create several forms of anxiety. There’s the pain itself. But then a fear of the dentist can then override the inclination to make an appointment. They become afraid of what they may feel at the office. “Oh, the pain will go away.” While the feeling may be understandable, they may be due to a previous bad experience. There are no benefits to waiting.
Getting help is as simple as making an appointment with your dentist. They will talk to you about your dental history, including any previous procedures you may have had. You also need to tell them about any allergies or other medications you are taking. They will then take X-rays and examine your mouth. Once they have figured out the problem, they will tell you the best course of treatment. This may require multiple office visits.
Tooth pain can be quite distressing, but not fixing it can be far worse.
The staff at Esthetix Dental Spa are quite experienced dealing with all kinds of tooth pain. Give them a call at 212-795-9675 at the very first signs of a toothache and they will gladly make an appointment for you to fix the issue.
Published By:
Esthetix Dental Spa
285 Fort Washington Ave,
New York, NY 10032
Phone: (212) 795-9675
Website: http://washingtonheightsdentists.com/
