5 Common Causes of Tooth Pain

Toothaches range from mild and annoying to throbbing and debilitating. Regardless of what’s causing your pain, tooth pain signals the need for dental care. At-home remedies can temporarily ease pain, but Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro encourages you to seek dental care to get to the root cause of your pain. Through our comprehensive dental exams, we can identify any potential problems and help you feel better.

In the meantime, Dr. Teodoro highlights five common causes of tooth pain and how they’re treated.

1. Tooth decay

Sometimes cavities go undetected, at least while they are small. However, larger cavities can cause pain and discomfort. You might feel discomfort when you bite down, and you might feel a sharp pain or increased sensitivity. Tooth pain caused by decay won’t go away until you fill the cavity. 

2. Fractures and cracks

Fractures and cracks cause tooth pain, especially if the crack exposes the nerves inside of your tooth. The following conditions can all cause pain:

• Chips
• Hairline fractures
• Broken teeth (larger fractures)
• Cracks
• Avulsed teeth

Once your fracture or crack is fixed, you should notice the pain subside. Treatment depends on the severity of your fracture, but potential options include bonding or dental crowns.

Note: Severe fractures and knocked-out teeth should be treated within 30 minutes for the best chances of saving your tooth. If your tooth is knocked out, keep it clean and moist. You can even keep your tooth inside your cheek until you receive dental care.

3. Infections

Oral infections can also cause pain. You might suspect you have an infection if you also notice:

• Facial swelling
• A fever
• A pimplelike bump on your gums
• Redness or irritation on your gums

Infections are often treated with antibiotics, but you might benefit from a root canal. Root canal therapy is designed to remove any infected or decay material from inside of your tooth. Once the infection is thoroughly treated, you’ll notice your symptoms subside.

4. Impacted wisdom teeth

As your wisdom teeth erupt through your gums, they can hurt. However, even if they don’t fully erupt, they can cause pain and discomfort. You might suspect that your wisdom teeth are causing tooth pain, if you also notice jaw pain, swollen gums, and pus (if an infection is present).

Pain from problematic wisdom teeth is often treated by extracting your wisdom teeth.

5. Tooth sensitivity 

If your teeth hurt when you take a sip of hot coffee or bite into something cold, your pain might be related to tooth sensitivity. Sometimes tooth sensitivity is temporary. For example, sensitivity is a common (but fleeting) side effect of teeth whitening. Sensitivity can also be a sign of other conditions, including decay. The best way to treat tooth sensitivity is to treat the underlying cause. However, some people simply have more sensitive teeth than others. In this case, a toothpaste formulated for sensitivity might help you get relief. Dr. Teodoro can suggest an appropriate toothpaste for you.

Don’t brush off tooth pain

No matter what’s causing your pain, we can help you find relief. Whether you need a filling or bonding or a root canal, we can treat the cause of your tooth pain in Hercules, California. You can reach us at 510-254-3328, or you can visit our website to request a consultation with us today.