Sometimes your tooth hurts and you just can’t figure out why. It could be from you grinding your teeth at night, or even from extreme tooth decay. It can be intimidating to sift through everything. Here are eight common causes of toothaches. Take a look and see if anything resonates with you. Please note, this is not a diagnosis. See your dentist for treatment.
One of the most common reasons your teeth might hurt is tooth decay. Erosion and decay leads to cavities, or holes on the outside of your teeth. While cavities are initially painless and only detectable by the dentist, if they are left untreated they can reach the center of the tooth and cause pain. If you only have pain in one tooth, this could be the cause of your tooth pain.
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is another very common cause of tooth pain. If you develop gum disease and leave it untreated, it can become so severe that it breaks down the bones and tissue in your mouth. If your gums are inflamed, irritated, red, or bleeding, this could be the cause of your pain.
However, you could also have issues relating to gingival recession, or receding gums. If you have trauma to your mouth, poor oral hygiene, brush too hard, or have even just inherited it, the gums in your mouth can pull back from your teeth exposing the roots. This can cause sensitivity and pain
Sensitive teeth can be caused by numerous things. Whether it is cracked teeth, receding gums, or worn down tooth enamel, somehow the dentin within your tooth and under your gums has become exposed. This can make your teeth very sensitive to cold air, drinks, and specific foods.
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, usually happens at night, and most people don’t even realize they’re doing it. It is commonly brought on by stress or sleep disorders. Over time, this can make your teeth sensitive by wearing down enamel or even cracking them and can cause pain in your jaw.
When you have a sinus infection, or a stuffy nose, it may cause your upper back teeth to hurt. It can feel more like a dull pressure than a stabbing pain. Tooth pain can also come from things like headaches. These external reasons can cause what is called referred pain in the teeth.
A tooth is impacted when it does not come through the gum line, but rather is stuck in the bone or gums. Impacted teeth may cause no pain, little pain, or a sharp, intense pain, depending on the tooth. Wisdom teeth are at a high risk of becoming impacted. The pain from impacted teeth may radiate up the jaw or to the nose.
There are two types of abscesses; the first appears next to the tooth along the gum (periodontal abscess), and the second is in the root of the tooth (periapical abscess). They are a pocket of pus that occurs and, when untreated, cause pain in the tooth.
The pulp of the tooth is where all of the nerves and blood vessels are within the tooth. Pulpitis is when that area becomes inflamed. It is important to seek treatment, as untreated pulpitis can cause a tooth to die which will intensify your pain.
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