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What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Whether the toothache is minor or severe, you should always have a dentist diagnose the underlying cause as soon as possible. In most cases, a strict oral hygiene regimen will prevent toothaches and discomfort. However, a variety of factors, including the following, can cause tooth or gum pain.
Cavity/Tooth Decay
Though cavities often happen gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection takes hold.
Grinding, Trauma or Injury
A broken or damaged tooth can be extremely painful, so don't ignore it, whether you grind your teeth while you sleep and gradually wear them down or you suffer an injury in a more direct way, like while playing sports. Your dentist might suggest a filling, a crown, or bonding as a course of treatment.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they can cause significant pain due to the pressure they put on the neighbouring teeth or infection. If there isn't enough space for them to erupt properly, impacted wisdom teeth can cause tooth damage and crowding.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections may lead to pockets filled with pus. This not only creates painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.
Gum Disease
Early stages of gum disease, or gingivitis, can progress to moderate and severe cases of periodontal disease. In the early stages, scaling and root planing, a procedure that involves removing plaque accumulation from the gum line, may be used by your dentist to treat your gingivitis.
For a more urgent case that’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Potential Causes
We should note that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth may help. You should also attempt to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this may be cause for more serious concern, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
There are times when the source of your tooth pain lies outside of your mouth. Symptoms similar to toothache can be caused by viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds.
However, it is still worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your dentist because ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself may result in serious complications. Most dental pain will not go away on its own and should be evaluated by your dentist.
What Helps Tooth Pain?
If you are wondering how to relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the issue can be diagnosed and treated.
There are some at-home treatments for tooth pain that you can try in the interim. To lessen discomfort and inflammation, use an ice pack or an over-the-counter pain reliever. In some circumstances, a saltwater rinse can also assist in calming and relieving tooth pain.