What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Whether your toothache is minor or severe, you should always have it diagnosed by a dentist as soon as possible. In most cases, a strict oral hygiene regimen will keep toothaches and discomfort at bay. However, there are numerous potential causes of tooth or gum pain, 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
A fractured or damaged tooth can be extremely painful; don't ignore it. This is true whether you grind your teeth while you sleep and eventually wear them down, or whether you suffer an injury in a way that is more immediate, like while participating in sports. A filling, crown, or bonding may be suggested by your dentist as a course of treatment.
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 can cause significant pain due to the pressure they exert on the surrounding teeth or infection. If there isn't enough space for them to erupt properly, impacted wisdom teeth can cause tooth damage and crowding.
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
Early stages (gingivitis) of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can progress to moderate and severe stages. When gingivitis is still in its early stages, your dentist might recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing, which involves removing plaque accumulation 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 times when the source of your tooth pain lies outside your mouth. Symptoms similar to a toothache can be caused by viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds.
However, it is still worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your dentist because ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain can lead to serious complications. The majority of dental pain will not go away on its own and should be evaluated by your 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.
You can try a few at-home treatments for tooth pain in the interim. To lessen discomfort and inflammation, use an ice pack or an OTC pain reliever. A saltwater rinse may occasionally assist in calming and reducing tooth pain.