What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Whether the toothache pain is minor or severe, you should always have a dentist diagnose its underlying cause as soon as possible. In most cases, a rigorous oral hygiene routine will prevent toothaches or discomfort. However, many potential factors can cause tooth or gum pain, including the following.
Cavities & Tooth Decay
Although cavities develop gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection from developing.
Teeth Grinding, Trauma To Your Mouth or Injury
Whether you gradually wear your teeth down by grinding your teeth at night, or you sustain an injury in some more immediate way - (while playing sports for example) - a fractured or damaged tooth can be very painful – don’t ignore it. Your dentist may recommend treating it with a filling, crown or bonding.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth Erupting
If your wisdom teeth become impacted, they will often become quite painful due to the pressure they inflict on the surrounding teeth, or because of 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 (periodontal disease) can range from early stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist may treat your gingivitis with a procedure called scaling and root planing – the process of removing plaque buildup 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 Possible 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 have been experiencing sensitivity for more than a couple of days this may be an indication of a more serious concern, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
In some cases, the issue that’s causing your discomfort may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
Nonetheless, it’s still worth it to book an appointment with your dentist since choosing to ignore your discomfort or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to more serious issues developing. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.
What Can I Do To Relieve My 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 try 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.
Are experiencing toothaches or gum pain? Please contact our Calgary dentists today to book an examination. Our dentists are here to help you improve your oral health.