Whether it's a constant dull throb, a sharp pain when biting, or extreme sensitivity to hot coffee, tooth pain isn't something you should ignore.
Your teeth contain sensitive nerves and blood vessels inside their inner pulp chamber. When inflammation or infection reaches these inner structures, your body alerts you through pain.
At the dental practice of James Hernandez, DDS, located in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA, we provide compassionate, fast relief for dental emergencies, including toothaches. Dr. Hernandez diagnoses the source of your pain so you can get back to living comfortably.
Understanding what triggers your discomfort can help you take action before small problems grow worse. Here are six of the most common causes of a toothache:
Gum disease and severe decay can cause painful infections in your teeth. In addition to toothaches, infections may also trigger swelling, fever, redness, tenderness, and increased warmth.
Some infections cause small, pimple-like bumps called abscesses to form on your gums. These require prompt dental care to halt the spread of infection. Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Hernandez may drain the abscess and prescribe antibiotics to eradicate your infection and the resulting toothache.
Dental trauma refers to any injury or accident that affects the health of your teeth. Most often, it’s the result of an accident or sports injury, but we’ve also seen patients damage their teeth by using them as tools, such as tearing open tough packaging material with their teeth. Dental trauma can cause painful injuries, including fractures, chips, and even knocked-out teeth.
Wisdom teeth are those “extra” molars that erupt in the back of your mouth. If they become impacted (stuck below the surface of your gums), the result is pain, swelling, bad breath, and a host of other problems. Even partially impacted wisdom teeth can be problematic. These teeth have partially emerged and can trap bacteria and debris, increasing the risk of infection. A tooth extraction is necessary in most cases.
Despite the name, gum disease doesn’t just impact your gums. If the bacteria from your gums build up along your tooth roots, you could develop a toothache. Gum disease treatments vary depending on the severity of your symptoms, but scaling and root planing are usually the first treatments we recommend. You may also need antibiotics if you have an active infection.
Tooth pain is closely linked to tooth decay. Cavities, also known as tooth decay or dental caries, are permanently damaged areas of your enamel. Left untreated, these holes or pits can continue to expand, leaving you vulnerable to increased pain and infection.
You might suspect a cavity-related toothache if:
A simple filling can quickly stop the spread.
Because some cavities can hide between teeth, we may recommend dental X-rays to expose elusive cavities and ensure we’re treating all areas of decay.
Damaged or missing restorations, including fillings and crowns, can also cause pain. Once these protective restorations are damaged, your tooth pulp (which contains nerves) is exposed and vulnerable. An exposed tooth root can cause significant sensitivity and discomfort. The only remedy for a toothache caused by a broken restoration is to replace the restoration.
If you are experiencing a toothache, visit our office immediately for effective emergency care. You can also contact us to schedule an appointment.
