Toothache - The Top 5 Causes

Toothache is a nasty thing. It’s unlike any other kind of ache or pain we get in our bodies. When you get a toothache, it drills down to your core, giving you headaches, jaw aches, neck aches and making you feel miserable. There are plenty of people who call it one of the worst kinds of pain. But luckily, toothache isn’t like your common headache – it doesn’t just happen for no reason. Which means it’s something that can be fixed. Today, we’re going through the top 5 causes of tooth pain, and how to get rid of it.

5. Straightening Your Teeth

Braces, retainers and any other form of dental alignment is going to cause some tooth pain and jaw ache for a little while afterwards. Since tooth alignments tighten braces or move teeth, there can be some pain right after the treatment is done. It may stay sharp for an hour, but will fade to a dull ache that usually goes away after a few days. If the pain doesn’t go away, it worth going back to talk to your straight teeth dentist about readjusting your orthodontic appliance to be more comfortable.

4. Wisdom Teeth Troubles

Around your twenties your wisdom teeth come in, and these can cause a lot of issues. For one thing, your teeth and mouth have finished their growing and been settled into position for a long time, so the eruption of new teeth will cause some aches and pains anyway. But often, erupting wisdom teeth will push against the neighbouring teeth, which can be incredibly painful. They can also become impacted or infected, which can lead to stabbing pain and headaches that are difficult to get rid of. A dentist can spot these issues and recommend treatment to remove the pain, which may include having them removed, or braces to realign any teeth that were pushed out of place.

3. Brushing Technique

If you find your teeth and gums aching after you brush your teeth, you might be using an improper brushing or flossing technique. This is quite common – most people don’t pay attention to the pressure they apply when brushing their teeth, and push much too hard. This can leave your gums irritated, inflamed and even bleeding. If done over a long period of time, it can actually cause your gums to recede and make your teeth unstable, resulting in even more pain and discomfort. If you tend to brush or floss a bit hard, try switching to interdental brushes instead of string floss, and use only soft-bristled toothbrushes.

 

2. Grinding Teeth

Tooth grinding isn’t a great habit to get into, but sometimes we just can’t help it.  Tooth grinding can happen during periods of stress, or during your sleep, when you are completely unaware of it. Grinding your teeth involved violently clenching your jaw and moving the teeth around in that clenched position (usually back and forth), and is a really common cause of tooth, jaw, and neck pain. It’s also one of the leading causes of chipped teeth, which are pretty painful in their own right.

1.  Damaged Fillings

If you’ve had fillings in the past, you will need to keep an eye on them as you get older. Fillings that cover deeper holes or fractures in the teeth protect your tooth from further damage and stop things like food from irritating any exposed nerves. But fillings can break down, especially if you do things like grind your teeth (which will wear them down faster), chew gum or don’t take care of your teeth properly. When this happens, you could get tooth pain ranging from a dull ache to sharp pains when you eat and drink, especially if something is very hot or cold. You may also find the tooth feels rough when you run your tongue along it. If this is the case, you’ll need to see a dentist to have the filling fixed before the vulnerable bits of your teeth are damaged further.

At Appledore, we see patients every day who have come in with some form of unexplained tooth pain. It’s our job to work out what’s causing their discomfort and offer the right solution to relieve the pain. This could be anything from patching a worn filling or removing an infected tooth, to simply teaching you how to brush your teeth properly. If you have been struggling with tooth pain, know that you don’t have to live with it. Come and see us, and we will find the root cause of your pain and cure it.

 


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