As anyone who has ever had a toothache knows, the sooner the tooth pain is relieved, the better. Sore or painful teeth are never normal and can be a sign that there is a problem in your mouth that needs to be addressed. If your teeth are causing you discomfort, it might be time to schedule an appointment to see your dentist.
He or she can perform a comprehensive examination and answer the question you’ve undoubtedly been asking: “What is causing my dental pain?” Levesque Dentistry of Nashua, NH would like to review with you a few of the most common causes of dental pain.
Cavity Causing Tooth Pain
A cavity is a hole that has formed in your tooth when plaque-eating bacteria start eating the enamel of your teeth as well. Bacteria are at home in our mouths naturally because it is warm and wet. These bacteria are normally harmless but if you don’t brush and floss regularly, the plaque that they eat will spread and they will run rampant and devour your enamel too.
Their digestive acids cause weak spots in your enamel which can eventually become cavities. When the inside of the tooth is exposed, it can cause sensitivity to temperature or touch or even outright pain. Cavities are more easily treated by your dentist when they are still small.
Damaged or Lost Filling
Despite what many people think, the fillings your dentist uses to treat cavities are not permanent. Fillings usually fall out after 5-10 years of use and this may lead to issues with your bite, causing pain and sensitivity. A visit to your Levesque dentist or your local dentist can determine what needs to be done to relieve the pain and repair or replace the filling.
Teeth Grinding/Clenching/TMJ
If you often wake up with a sore jaw or find yourself bearing down on your teeth during the day, you are probably also clenching or grinding your teeth at night while you sleep as well. Levesque Dentistry can offer solutions that can protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear and the painful headaches, toothaches and jaw pain that can come with a teeth grinding habit or a TMJ disorder.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscess is a major infection in the root of a tooth and can be extremely painful. These infections can only be resolved with antibiotics and dental treatment, usually with a root canal treatment. An abscess that isn’t treated can lead to a widespread infection, putting your overall health at risk.
Wisdom Teeth Coming In
When your wisdom teeth begin to grow in, they can cause a great deal of pain, swelling, and jaw stiffness. Dr. Harper or your area dentist can determine if the teeth are coming in properly or if they need to be removed.
Injury
Teeth are the strongest tissue in our body but they can still be injured in activities such as contact sports or in an accident. Tooth injuries commonly appear as a “bruised” or deep discoloring of the tooth, a broken tooth, or total loss of one or more teeth.
Temperature Sensitivity
When the under-layer of the tooth enamel, called the dentin, is exposed by cavities, cracks in your outer tooth enamel or the recession of your gum tissue from gum disease, your teeth can become sensitive to temperatures and this can even lead to pain.
Orthodontic Treatment
When you have your braces adjusted, you are likely to experience some level of pain. This is normal and can be managed using an over-the-counter pain medicine, or if the issue is caused by the hardware itself, by coating the sharp area with a little ball of dental wax.
Teeth Whitening
Most people will feel some sensitivity or discomfort after a professional teeth-whitening treatment, but the pain should resolve within a day. Talk to your dentist if it is too painful or problematic.
Relieve Tooth Pain in Nashua, NH
No matter what the reason, we know that tooth pain can be miserable, so stop asking, “Why?” and schedule an appointment online with a Levesque Dentistry dentist today, or call our scheduling specialist on (603) 547-9203.
Most dental offices will open up their schedules for dental emergencies, especially when you are experiencing pain. They will identify the underlying problem and help you find relief, fast.