Not Every Toothache is a Cavity: Other Reasons Your Teeth May Hurt

Many people assume that if their tooth hurts, then they have a cavity. While cavities are certainly a common cause of tooth pain, they’re not the only cause. At California Dental Group we must stress that if you have a toothache, the best thing to do is make an appointment with your local dentist as soon as possible. We are here to help! Your tooth pain could be caused by a cavity or by one of the follow conditions.

Periodontal disease

Believe it or not, sometimes a toothache isn’t even caused by your teeth. In some cases, your teeth are just a warning sign for other issues, like periodontal disease, which you likely know of as gum disease. When it’s in its advanced stages, it can cause even healthy teeth to hurt. How? Basically, your gums get flared up, which affects the tissues and bone around your teeth. This can lead to a dull pain that includes swelling and bleeding.

Temporomandibular disorder

Have you ever heard of TMD? You may not know this, but it’s actually short for temporomandibular disorder. If you grind your teeth, the pressure from that constant grinding can cause pain in your jaw. Eventually, it will also wear down the surface of your teeth. When you visit California Dental Group, we can look at ways to prevent teeth grinding and we can repair the damage via cosmetic dentistry options like dental crowns and bridges.

Sensitive teeth

Do you get a sharp pain in your teeth when you drink something that’s very hot or very cold? If so, chances are good that the issue isn’t a cavity but rather tooth sensitivity. It can be caused by a wide range of issues. Two common reasons include gums that have receded and tooth enamel thinning. If either of these things happen, then the roots of your teeth can be exposed, which leaves them to be affected by heat or coolness of what you’re eating and drinking. \

If this happens to you, try to avoid drinking anything that’s acidic and only use a soft toothbrush. And, of course, call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to have a thorough exam to find out what’s causing your tooth sensitivity.

A cracked tooth

Do you experience a stabbing type of pain? Does it generally only happen when you’re actually chewing food? If so, and you look closely at the tooth that hurts, you may not see anything. Yet, there could be a cracked tooth. Often, these small cracks aren’t visible to the naked eye. In some cases, we can’t even see them with an x-ray. However, we can find them. Cracked teeth can be caused by a wide range of injuries, including teeth grinding and poor chewing habits.

Don’t wait until you’re in pain to visit California Dental Group. Call us today at (800) 407-0161 to set up your appointment.