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Causes of Tooth Pain & Gum Pain
Regardless of the intensity of toothache pain, it is essential to seek a professional dental diagnosis to identify its root cause promptly. While maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine can often prevent toothaches and discomfort, there are various factors that can contribute to tooth or gum pain.
These factors encompass a wide range of possibilities, including the following:
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
If you grind your teeth while sleeping, which can gradually wear them down, or if you experience an injury, such as during sports activities, a fractured or damaged tooth can cause significant pain. It is important not to ignore such issues. Your dentist may suggest treatment options like a filling, crown, or bonding to address the problem.
Grinding can also lead to tooth sensitivity problems. You can ask your dentist for advice on how to break this harmful habit and alleviate sensitivity.
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 mild (gingivitis) to moderate and severe stages. If you have gingivitis in the early stage, your dentist may recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing. This involves removing plaque buildup from the gum line to treat the condition.
In more severe cases of gum disease that require immediate attention, treatments such as a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery may be necessary.
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 experience prolonged sensitivity lasting more than a couple of days, it could indicate a more serious issue, such as gum recession. It is recommended to visit your dentist in such cases.
There are instances when tooth pain may be caused by factors unrelated to the mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds can produce symptoms similar to those of a toothache.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to make an appointment with your dentist. Ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain on your own can potentially lead to serious problems. Most dental pain does not resolve spontaneously 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.
In the meantime, there are a few home remedies for tooth pain you can try. Apply an ice pack or taking an over-the-counter pain medication to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.