Toothaches are the most widespread dental problem around the world. It’s typically the main reason why people go to the dentist. Toothaches are caused by a number of factors, some of which are more surprising than others.
When you have a toothache, you frequently don’t know why or what caused it. Toothaches can appear out of nowhere and cause significant discomfort. To eliminate toothache, you need to visit a dental clinic and undergo professional treatment. In this article, we have gathered seven common causes of toothache that you shouldn’t neglect.
1. Cavities
Cavities, or tooth decay, can be caused by a poor diet and poor dental hygiene. Plaque accumulates on your teeth when you eat, and if it is not addressed by proper oral hygiene routines at home, such as brushing and flossing, bacteria can feed on it. Bacteria then produce acid that eats away your tooth enamel and causes cavities.
2. Teeth grinding
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition in which a person clenches their teeth. People who grind their teeth usually do it when sleeping or under stressful conditions. Excessive teeth grinding entails clenching the jaw aggressively and grinding the top and bottom teeth against one other. This can cause aching jaw bones and joints, headaches, and even fractured or chipped teeth, which can cause a lot of pain.
3. Gum disease
Gum disease causes inflamed, red, or bleeding gums, as well as tooth discomfort. Gum disease, like decay, is avoidable, but if it becomes too severe, it can lead to tooth loss. Proper brushing and flossing can help moderate gum disease diminish and eventually disappear.
4. Damaged fillings
Dental fillings are created to protect the most vulnerable areas of your teeth. When they are broken, you run the risk of being exposed to food particles, pressure, and germs. Inform your dentist if you have dental fillings and are experiencing discomfort or sensitivity when chewing since these are frequent symptoms of deterioration that must be addressed immediately.
5. Wisdom teeth issues
Generalized toothache is frequently caused by impacted and misplaced wisdom teeth. If there is little space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to grow in, or if they grow in at an unusual angle, they press on each other and shift out of alignment, causing debilitating pain. While misalignment can be corrected with dental appliances, impacted wisdom teeth must be extracted by your dentist to relieve your toothache.
6. Broken teeth
Cracked, chipped, and fractured teeth can cause serious toothaches and require treatment ranging from a filling or veneer to a full extraction. This is because the pain from a broken tooth must have reached the nerve in the core of your tooth in order for you to experience it. That is why it is critical to repair any fracture or chip in your tooth as soon as possible before it worsens.
7. Dental abscess
Untreated advanced tooth decay can eventually spread to the root and create a painful abscess. It might be difficult to diagnose since the pain can spread across your jaw. If an abscess is overlooked, the infection may spread to other regions of your body, causing significant health issues.
The bottom line
If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, contact your dentist immediately to schedule an examination to determine the source of the problem. The best way to avoid most of these causes of toothaches is to maintain a proper oral healthcare practice, which includes daily brushing and flossing as well as frequent dentist appointments. This will keep your teeth healthy, clean, and pain-free!