Decoding Your Toothache: What Your Pain Is Telling You

Tooth pain can really disrupt your life. You may have problems chewing your food or drinking anything hot or cold. Serious tooth pain can even cause you to miss work or school. When a toothache does not go away quickly, you need to pay attention and contact our office for an appointment, because that pain may be warning you of something serious.

A Toothache Is No Laughing Matter

We’ve all heard this joke: When’s the best time to go to the dentist? Tooth-hurty! While it might have made you giggle as a kid, you may not find it funny as an adult with a toothache. If you have tooth pain, or pain in any part of your mouth, that

• does not go away within a reasonable amount of time,
• comes and goes, but never goes away completely
• becomes more intense with time,
• prevents you from eating or drinking normally, or
• spreads to other areas of your mouth,

you need to see your dentist to find out the cause. That pain could be telling you that you have a serious oral health problem.

Decoding Tooth Pain

Do not ignore persistent or recurring tooth pain. The pain is likely indicating a deeper problem. While only your dentist can tell you the precise source of your pain, here is a short guide to what your toothache could mean:

• Sharp Pain often indicates tooth decay that has reached the living nerve inside your tooth.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold can be a sign of tooth decay, gum disease, or the result of teeth grinding.
• Throbbing Pain is usually associated with an infection, abscess, or impacted tooth.
• Pain When Biting may be warning you of tooth decay, infection, or fracture.

Toothache Causes

Tooth Decay is the most common cause of oral pain. As that outer layer of the tooth breaks down and the inner layers are exposed, the tooth becomes more sensitive. Over time, the decay will reach the nerves inside the tooth and cause even more pain.

Gum Disease happens when harmful oral bacteria accumulate under and around the gumline. Your teeth and gums will start to ache from the resulting inflammation and infection. When gum disease is not treated promptly, the pain will spread and worsen.

Fractures or Cracks can cause toothaches when the sensitive inner layers of the tooth become exposed to harmful oral bacteria. A crack or fracture that starts small can worsen if it is not treated right away, leaving the tooth vulnerable to infection and causing even more pain.

Teeth Grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, can cause pain because, over time, the affected teeth wear down or fracture and facial and jaw muscles become strained.

A Dental Abscess is a serious infection that requires immediate treatment. Harmful oral bacteria can penetrate deep into the tooth and easily spread to other parts of your mouth and body. Signs of an abscess include swelling, throbbing pain, pus around the affected tooth, and dark-colored gums.

Wisdom Teeth are the last teeth to emerge, usually not coming in until the late teens or early twenties. They are often painful as they develop and begin to erupt, especially if one or more become impacted, meaning that they do not fully emerge from the gums.

Call Us Right Away!

Please tell us if you have any concerning tooth pain. Your dentist will want to examine your mouth to determine the cause and treat it, if necessary, to prevent a more serious problem from developing. If you live in or around Meeker, CO, please contact us to request an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon.