What is causing your toothache?
Toothaches are not fun and just like most pains in the body – are generally an indication that something is not quite right. As the saying goes, “when your body speaks – listen”. While the exact cause and treatment for a toothache can only be determined by a professional after an examination, your symptoms could be giving you an idea of what is wrong.
Some of the main causes of toothaches are:
– The eruption of wisdom teeth
– Tooth decay
– An abscessed tooth
– A tooth fracture
– A damaged or loose filling
– Aggressive chewing, teeth grinding or clenching
– Infected gums or advanced gum disease
The 4 main types of tooth pain which many patients reportedly experience:
1. Near sinus pain
An ache in the rear sinus area could suggest a problem with your back tooth as they share the same nerve pathways as the sinuses. Pain, after eating or drinking something hot or cold, may be a sign of decay within the inner pulp of the tooth that’s damaging the nerve tissue. If this is the case, root canal treatment or in extreme cases, tooth extraction may be in order.
2. Wisdom teeth pain
As your wisdom teeth break through the gums, it can cause pain, tenderness, slight swelling and a fever. However, many people have to opt for having their wisdom removed either because they have become impacted or are shifting other teeth because of the lack of space.
3. Teeth Sensitivity
Pain or discomfort when you eat or drink cold foods something cold or warm could mean that you are suffering from tooth decay, gum recession or a loose filling. The following are general symptoms of poor oral hygiene but can also be aggravated by certain health conditions or medications. Dental treatment to repair a decayed tooth or filling could alleviate the pain. In the case of gum recession, you may need to reduce overaggressive brushing or seek treatment for gum disease as this condition cannot naturally be reversed.
4. Sharp pain
Excruciating pain when you chew could also point to a damaged tooth, decay or a loose filling. Swollen, bleeding and tender gums might mean that you have developed an abscess as a result of gum disease. Dental treatment like fillings, root canals or cleaning can be done to alleviate the symptoms, however, this depends on the extent of the problem.
While we recommend that you book an appointment if your symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, here are a few temporary measures you can take to alleviate your symptoms:
• Over the counter painkillers
• Make use of ice packs
• Avoid eating hard foods
• Avoid smoking
Regardless of the kind of pain you’re experiencing, be sure to book an appointment with us as soon as possible, as in many cases – waiting will only make the problem worse. The sooner we discover the cause, the sooner we can begin the right treatment to solve the issue and alleviate your pain.