Toothaches can feel like a major inconvenience in your day-to-day life. The pain can additionally create tension in your jaw and cause severe headaches that distract you from getting work done or spending quality time with your family. Oftentimes people resort to pain relievers to get them through the toothaches, but that is only a temporary solution. Make sure to visit your local dentist and find the root of your problem so you don’t have to deal with the constant pain.
To help identify the cause and severity of your pain, we’ve created a list of the top 5 reasons for toothaches that you may address with your local dental care provider.
1. Wisdom Teeth
As wisdom teeth erupt, it can cause irritability due to inflammation of the gums. It is possible for swelling to occur and prevent the mouth from fully closing, and even make it hard for food to be chewed. The soreness can result in headaches and can cause pain to arise from the jawline all the way to the ear. In severe cases, the gum overlying the crown can become infected.
Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause an extreme amount of pain for an extended period of time as the tooth fails to break through the gums, causing constant discomfort. It is common for impacted wisdom teeth to push against the other molars, creating a shift in position that causes pain.
2. Grinding Teeth
Bruxism, which is most commonly known as teeth grinding, involves grinding the lower and upper teeth together and/or tightly clenching the jaw. It is estimated that about 8-31 percent of the population have reported suffering from this condition. Many people do not even know they have bruxism because it often occurs at night when the person is sleeping.
The pressure of teeth pressing against each other can affect the underlying nerve and cause excessive oral discomfort. Bruxism can also cause physical damage as it wears down the tooth surface and can eventually result in broken teeth. Headaches and migraines may occur due to muscles and facial bones being overworked during the movement.
3. Damaged Fillings
Just like natural teeth become damaged, so can your fillings and sealants. Excessive grinding, plaque, and injury are all factors that can contribute to damaged fillings and essentially toothaches. It is important to attend annual check-ups to assure the fillings are still intact. Make sure to visit a trusted dental provider to resolve any minor issues that can result in extreme pain.
4. Gum Infection
A white smile and fresh breath isn’t the only reason we urge patients to brush and floss daily. Improper treatment of the mouth, including a poor diet and smoking, can make the tissue of teeth break down and store bacteria. In return, the gums become infected and will cause toothaches along with additional symptoms of chronic bad breath, receding gums, bleeding, pus, and loose teeth.
5. Tooth Decay – Cavities
The most common factor in oral pain is tooth decay, which goes hand in hand with cavities. Tooth decay originates from the enamel (outer layer of the tooth) being broken down and allowing for plaque bacteria to build up. Minerals from the enamel are then lost, resulting in cavities that bring about sensitivity to certain temperatures when eating or drinking. If not treated, the cavity can fall further into layers of the tooth, entering the dentin and so forth, which can lead to infection and permanent tooth removal.
If you have been struggling with toothaches and are in need of a check-up contact us at (805) 410-1532 or sam.newburydentalgroup@gmail.com to set up an appointment with Dr. Peyman or Dr. Sam at our office in Newbury Park or Thousand Oaks.