What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Regardless of the intensity of your toothache, it's important to have a dentist promptly identify the root cause. Maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine is typically effective in preventing toothaches and discomfort. However, there are various potential factors that can contribute to tooth or gum pain, such as:
Cavity/Tooth Decay
Though cavities often happen gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection takes hold.
Grinding, Trauma or Injury
Whether you grind your teeth in your sleep and gradually wear them down, or you sustain an injury in some more immediate way, such as during a sport, a fractured or damaged tooth can cause significant pain. It's important not to overlook it. Your dentist may suggest treatment options such as a filling, crown, or bonding to address the issue.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they often become quite painful due to the pressure the inflict on the surrounding teeth, or infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to secondary issues including tooth damage and crowding if there isn’t enough space for them to erupt properly.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections may lead to pockets filled with pus. This not only creates painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.
Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can vary in severity from its early stage, known as gingivitis, to moderate and severe stages. During the initial phase, your dentist may address gingivitis by performing a procedure called scaling and root planing. This involves the removal of plaque buildup from the gum line.
For a more urgent case that’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Potential Causes
We should note that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth may help. You should also attempt to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this may be cause for more serious concern, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
There are also times the issue that’s causing your tooth pain may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to make an appointment with your dentist because neglecting or misidentifying the source of pain on your own could potentially lead to significant problems. Dental pain typically does not resolve on its own and should be evaluated by a dentist.
What Helps Tooth Pain?
If you are wondering how to relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the issue can be diagnosed and treated.
Meanwhile, you can attempt a couple of home remedies for tooth pain. Applying an ice pack or taking an over-the-counter pain medication can help reduce both pain and inflammation. Additionally, a saltwater rinse may provide relief and soothing properties for tooth pain in certain cases.
