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6 Common Causes of Dental Pain (and What To Do About It)

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Healthy Dental Tips Blog

6 Common Causes of Dental Pain (and What To Do About It)
Posted by Rachel Moody, MBA on Dec 15, 2014 11:00:00 AM
Pain is a protective response from your body.
Whether it is minor or severe; the sensory
trigger is there to let you know something is
wrong-something that comes from the inside
out. Dental pain is no exception to this rule.
It is a form of reactive nerve pain that
emanates from inside your teeth when they
are exposed to certain stimuli.

Why do your teeth hurt?

The answer depends on the stimuli.What stimuli? For every symptom, there is a cause.
Here are 6common causes and what to do about them:

Cause #1: Sensitivity to temperature.

The dental pain is momentary, but it usually signals a minor problem within the tooth itself.
It could be:
A small area of tooth decay
A loose filling
An exposed root due to abrasion or gum recession
What to do about it: The best thing to do is to keep your teeth and gum line clear of
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bacterial plaque. Do this by gently brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush, no more than
twice a day. A toothpaste containing fluoride works well for sensitive teeth. You can use the
toothpaste as an ointment by rubbing it on your teeth for about 10 minutes, as needed.

Cause #2: Sensitivity after dental treatment.

Dental work can also cause dental pain. How? Depending on the problem, fixing it may
cause inflammation inside the tooth.
What to do about it:The good news is the pain you arefeeling only lasts a few days to a few
weeks. Decay removal and crown work may take a week or two to settle. In the meantime,
you can take over-the-counter pain relievers to manage your discomfort.

Cause #3: Sharp pain when chewing.

One of the following problems may be the culprit:
Decay
Loose filling
Cracked tooth
What to do about it:While a loose filling can be replaced by a dentist, the other causes of
dental pain when chewing will need to be addressed by a specialist. They can remove
decay, protect the root canal, and seal any spaces or cracks within the tooth.

Cause #4: Lingering pain after eating.

Pay very close attention to this symptom, it could mean that your tooth is infected. If tooth
decay or damage is left untreated, your tooth can die from the inside out.
What to do about it:This needs to be prevented before the pain becomes too severe. The
bacteria that build up can develop into a life-threatening abscess. A root canal can remove
the dead and dying pulp; saving the tooth.

Cause #5: Dull ache and pressure on the upper teeth.

Believe it or not, this kind of dental pain can be sinus-related. Your upper back teeth share
the same nerves as your sinus cavity. As a result, that pain can be referred to your teeth
and viceversa. However, the other possibility is that you are clenching your jaw and
grinding your teeth.
What to do about it:Given the two possibilities; you need to be seen by a dentist and/or
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your family physician before the symptoms get severe.

Cause #6: Constant pain.

This is a sign of an acute infection. It is imperative that you get this symptom treated as
soon as possible. Without treatment, your tooth will die. A dead tooth usually leads to an
abscess; a bacterial pocket that forms under the nerve in your tooth. If the infection enters
your bloodstream, it can be fatal.
What to do about it:Root canals, antibiotics, and pain killers can be used to isolate and
remove the problematic infection.

Conclusion
As always, these causes and solutions are just some of the diagnostic possibilities. Do not
use the information contained in this article as a replacement for medical advice. To
getproperly treated, you need to see a dentist or a specialist.

FindaWaterLaseDentistNearYouToday!

Topics: Dental Care Basics

vickis williams 4/20/2015, 12:09:52 PM

Wonderful post!
In my opinion our unhealthy food habits holds an important role in increased rate of the dental
problems. My child is very lazy in the matter of brushing, so cavities are found in this tender
age itself, but without delay we consulted Dr.Dr.Ken Wolch, a kids dentist from Scarborough,
and filled the cavities. So what I wish to say is, try to get some time to teach your baby good
brushing skills.
Replytovickiswilliams

regina berg 4/24/2015, 9:53:22 AM

Great post Rachel!!
Because of unhealthy food habits, cavities are found in the mouth of my son in this very
tender age , but without delay
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Replytoreginaberg

kathy j hall 4/24/2015, 10:04:59 AM

Few years back my baby wake up everyday with dental pain, and he couldn't even drink tea
due to this excessive dental pain. Then as per my friend's request
Replytokathyjhall

Sameer Puri 5/27/2015, 4:39:51 PM

Gum issues if not resolved can be a big trouble. I ignored it for a while thinking it will be alright
in time. The pain started growing beyond my tolerance. At once, i started looking online for
solutions and came across dentzz review. Trust me, the treatment worked and now I am void
of all pain.
ReplytoSameerPuri

Zach Thalman 7/20/2015, 8:05:51 PM

Pain is probably the number one indicator that you need to go see the dentist. It is amazing
how much pain can come from such a small cavity. I got a few cavities filled months ago and it
was really interesting to see the radiographs and where the cavities were. I don't think they
would have ever been visible to the eye.
ReplytoZachThalman

Bookdr appointment 8/25/2015, 6:20:11 PM

Thanks for sharing how important it is to maintain good dental hygiene! It is crazy to see what
diseases that poor dental hygiene contributes to. I am trying to get better about flossing daily.
ReplytoBookdrappointment

Mary K. Thomas 9/22/2015, 6:13:44 PM

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Every dental professional must set best practice standards and should be innovative in all
aspect of their profession.
ReplytoMaryK.Thomas

milton promaine 9/29/2015, 5:00:14 PM

Interesing post. I really appreciate the efforts you've put into, in exploring the causes of dental
pain. I used to have lingering pain while eating then I was taken to the Dr. Silberman's dental
clinic in Houston. I was given required medication and now I'm perfectly alright.
Replytomiltonpromaine

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Dr. Manvinder Saini 11/26/2015, 10:21:52 AM

It's Very Nice and Helpful Post !!!
Thanks For Sharing Dental Blog With Health Care Tips.
ReplytoDr.ManvinderSaini

Lara N 2/3/2016, 3:10:00 PM

Wonderful Blog!
"Healthy Dental Tips" is a really good post.Nowadays most of the people suffering from Dental
Problems.Even My sister had teeth pain after consulting Doctor she is recovered from Teeth
pain.Teeth Causes are really good.

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ReplytoLaraN

Martha J 2/15/2016, 3:56:28 PM

An interesting topic! I have experienced tooth ache many times and I had to always rush to my
family dentistry in Calgary ( http://www.sierracentre.com/services/family-dentistry/ ). Now i
know the causes for dental pain, I can be more careful regarding this 6 things. Thanks for
posting such an informative blog.
ReplytoMarthaJ

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