Possible Causes of Your Toothache

Many things can cause your teeth to start aching. Have you experienced any of these?

Dental procedures: If you’ve recently had fillings, a root canal, or deep cleaning, your gums and jaw may be sore. It’s normal to feel slight pain for a day or two afterward. If the pain is intense or doesn’t go away in a few days, contact your dentist.

Stuck food: Food stuck between your teeth and gums can cause inflammation in your gums. It’s easy to fix this irritation by using dental floss or tape to remove the food.

Decay: The most common cause of tooth pain is dental decay from a cavity. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, you might have advanced tooth decay. The pain will not go away. You need to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Grinding teeth: Do you grind your teeth at night? This is called bruxism. You may be doing it without realizing you are. Grinding can leave your whole mouth sore. It will also wear your teeth. A dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to alleviate the symptoms of griding.

Illness: You can get toothache symptoms when you have the shingles, a sinus infection or other illnesses. The toothache will typically subside once you get treatment for the illness.

Is It a Toothache or Sensitive Teeth?

Sometimes, you may experience “dentin hypersensitivity,” which is the medical term for sensitive teeth. Do your teeth hurt when you expose them to cold or hot temperatures, acidic beverages or cold air?

Sensitive teeth are the result of damaged enamel or gum recession. You can damage your tooth enamel by brushing too hard, eating highly acidic foods, grinding your teeth at night or using a hard toothbrush. Illnesses can also damage your enamel.

If you have sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about changes to your oral hygiene routine. A few changes can help your teeth rebuild their enamel.

What to Do About Tooth Pain

You should always let your dentist know about any jaw or tooth pain you’re experiencing. You can get immediate pain relief in the meantime.

Home Remedies for Tooth Pain

If you can’t see your dentist immediately, you can help soothe tooth pain with these home remedies. These are temporary fixes. It’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Saltwater rinse: Add half a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water, rinse, and spit out.

Hydrogen peroxide rinse: Use 3% hydrogen peroxide added to warm water. Rinse and spit out.

Floss: Use dental floss to remove food particles you may have missed.

Mint tea: Mint is a natural pain reliever. Use a mint tea bag to soothe pain and inflammation. Soak the tea bag in warm water before pressing it against your tooth.

When to Call a Dentist

The pain lasts several days.
Your gums look red and swollen.
It hurts to bite down.
You broke or chipped a tooth.
When It’s an Emergency
You have a fever.
You have pus or another discharge.
You have trouble breathing or swallowing.

Malan Family Dentistry Is Here for All Your Dental Needs

If you’re experiencing dental pain of any kind, contact Malan Family Dentistry. We’ll give you the proper diagnosis and outline a treatment plan. We provide comprehensive, compassionate care for the entire family.

What's Causing Your Toothache?