5 Potential Reasons Your Tooth Hurts and What to Do About It
Your tooth can begin to hurt suddenly or it can start with a light ache that gets worse over time. No matter which extreme you’re at – or if you’re somewhere in the middle – there’s nothing good about a toothache. We always suggest visiting a California dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, consider five possible reasons you are experiencing a toothache.
- Your tooth is decaying
- You have broken a tooth
- You have an infection in a tooth
- You have infected gums
- You may have a damaged filling
This is the most common reason for a person to experience a toothache. If your tooth enamel has weakened then you may have a cavity. If you don’t get a cavity filling from your dentist, then you will eventually have pain in your tooth. To avoid your teeth decaying, brush twice a day and floss daily. You should also get regular cleanings and exams from your dentist.
A broken tooth is known as a fracture. It can be caused by many things and it’s not always noticeable the moment it happens. A minor fracture that goes untreated can get worse over time and begin to hurt. Tooth fractures can be handled in a number of ways, depending on how serious the break was, but you will have the best chances of keeping your tooth if you get dental help sooner rather than later.
I you have infection at the root of your tooth or between your gum and your teeth then you have what is known as an abscess. These can be extremely painful, and can be caused by many things including gingivitis and broken teeth. If an infection in your teeth or gums is left untreated it can get much more painful and can actually be dangerous for your overall health.
Gingivitis and periodontitis can both cause infections in the gums and can result in many problems. The most common side effect of an infected gum is a toothache. If you catch it early enough, it can be fixed by simply brushing and flossing more regularly. If it has gotten to the point that you are experiencing pain then it is time to talk to the dentist.
If you have older fillings then they may eventually get worn out. This can result in a sore tooth. It may be that your filling is gone completely, chipped, or cracked. In most cases, this is not an emergency situation but you do want to see your dentist as soon as possible to prevent further pain.
Not every single toothache requires professional dental treatment. However, the issue is often that a person who is experiencing the toothache doesn’t know if it’s serious enough to call the dentist or not. As a result, we always recommend that you at least give us a call at (800) 407-0161. Let us know what the issue is and we can schedule you an appointment if we think it is necessary.
