It is a feeling many people dread; you try to take a bite of your food, or take a sip of your tea, and you feel a shooting "shocking" pain coming from one of your teeth. While toothaches affect most of us at one time or another, there is a lot of misunderstanding about what causes toothaches, and what toothaches even are.
Toothaches are often caused when the nerve to a tooth is irritated, but there are numerous reasons why this can happen. Therefore, when your teeth start to hurt, no need to begin panicking that you will need a wide variety of dental work, as there are several possible causes of your tooth pain.
To help you better understand any tooth pain you may be experiencing, here is a quick overview of what you need to know about what causes toothaches, toothache symptoms, and how you can prevent toothaches in the future.
Causes of Toothache
When you experience a toothache and any of the symptoms that can accompany toothaches, it is likely that this pain is being caused by an underlying issue with your oral health. Some of the most common oral health problems that can lead to toothaches include:
- Cavities (tooth decay): One of the signs of cavities is holes in your tooth. This makes food particles (like meat) easily stick between your tooth and gums. This is one of the primary causes of toothaches, and you may require a filling in order to eliminate your toothache. It is important that you do not ignore a toothache, as, if it is caused by tooth decay, decay that is left untreated long enough may require a root canal or removal of the tooth.
- Chipped, Broken, or Fractured Teeth: This is likely the cause of your pain if the onset of the pain occurs suddenly after eating something hard.
- Damaged Dental Work: If you have had previous dental work such as fillings or crowns, your pain could be as a result of damage to this previous work. If the pain is in an area of your mouth where work has been done, then you may have a filling or crown that needs repairing.
- Grinding: Tooth pain can also be the result of grinding your teeth. If you are a person who experiences a great deal of stress, then you may be unknowingly grinding your teeth at night, which can lead to daytime tooth pain. If this is the case, you may need a protective nighttime mouth guard that would prevent you from grinding your teeth while you sleep.
- Sensitivity: In many cases, tooth pain is not caused by a particular ailment or condition. Many people suffer from sensitive teeth, which can cause pain if they eat something that is particularly hot, cold, or hard. If your dentist determines that this is likely the cause of your pain, then you may want to consider using a specialty toothpaste such as OPAT Wonder powdered toothpaste, which can relieve hypersensitivity.
Toothache Symptoms
Most of the time you will be able to recognize a toothache right away, as you will likely experience a constant dull pain in your teeth, or you may experience a shooting pain when you consume food and drinks. If you have a "shock" feeling when you consume liquid, you probably have a tooth decay that is exposing the nerve in your tooth. This is a SERIOUS sign that you should never play with!
However, many people are unaware that there are other more "quiet" signs of dental health problems. Whether you are in constant pain, your tooth pain comes and goes, or you feel no pain at all, here are a few additional symptoms that can indicate to you that serious tooth pain is on its way.
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Painful Gums: Toothaches, and problems with your teeth, can cause pain that isn't limited to your teeth! In fact, if you notice that your gums are painful or swollen, or they are tender to touch, this can be a sign of problems with your teeth.
As a general rule, it is important that you do not ignore any kind of pain in your mouth, as this pain could be related to tooth decay or some other serious dental problem. Any kind of decay or infection in your mouth can cause pain to radiate throughout your mouth. However, when people experience pain in their mouth that isn't in their teeth, this often causes some people to believe that their teeth are fine. However, it is important that you do not ignore any kind of pain in your mouth, as you are likely suffering from dental problems and need to see a dentist as soon as possible. If visiting a dentist is out of your budget, use home remedies instead. Whatever you do, do NOT ignore any pain in your mouth.
- A Foul Taste in Your Mouth: If you have an infection in your mouth or teeth, this could explain your toothache; however, not all infections cause pain. An important first sign that you are suffering from some kind of infection in your mouth is if you notice that you suddenly have a near-constant bad taste in your mouth. This usually indicates an infection in one or more of your teeth, and what you are tasting is drainage from the infected tooth.
- Headache and Fever: Do you suddenly have a fever and/or a headache that you cannot explain? This can also indicate a severe oral infection. As the infection spreads it can cause these symptoms. Therefore, if you experience these symptoms alone, or in conjunction with tooth pain or any of the other symptoms listed above, you should see a dentist as soon as possible.
Toothache Treatment and Prevention
Unfortunately, by the time you experience a toothache, it is likely that you have dental health problems that needs your immediate attention. If you experience tooth pain that lasts more than a day or two, it is then critical that you make an appointment with a dentist who will be able to treat the underlying cause of your toothache.
If you cannot afford a dental visit, use a natural home remedy to stop the production of more bacteria that is damaging your tooth (and gums!)
Depending on the cause of the pain, you may be in need of a filling, a deep cleaning, or an antibiotic to treat an infection. Until you are able to see a dentist, you can minimize your pain by taking over-the-counter painkillers, avoiding food that is overly hot, cold, or hard, and by using a topical painkiller such as Orajel or RedCross Instant Pain Relief on the affected area.
Prevention
Like the popular saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure".
The best thing that you can do to avoid toothaches is to prevent them from occurring in the first place by properly taking care of your teeth.
Because if you don't, ONE DAY it will come back and bite you!
Steps that you can take to prevent future toothaches include:
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Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene: The fact is that most toothaches are caused by tooth decay, which can easily be prevented by following good oral hygiene practices. Make sure that your brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride-free toothpaste, and that you follow-up with a mouthwash to get rid of bacteria that can lead to infections.
Flossing is also critical in preventing tooth decay, as it helps to remove food particles from between your teeth. Try to make a point of integrating flossing into your daily routine as flossing is commonly neglected, but it can go a long way in maintaining your dental health.
- Eating a Healthy Diet: Even if you maintain your oral hygiene, the food that you eat can influence the health of your teeth. In particular, foods that are high in sugar (chewing gums, sweets, soda drinks etc) can cause tooth decay. You should then avoid or limit your intake of these foods if you are prone to oral health problems.
- Visiting The Dentist Regularly: The value of regular dental exams and cleanings cannot be overstated. Regular cleanings will not only help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but regular checkups can help you to spot problems and have them treated before they become too serious.
Ultimately, prevention is your greatest tool in fighting toothaches. By staying on top of your oral health, you can prevent toothaches from occurring in the first place.
However, if you are currently struggling with painful teeth, there are toothache solutions available.
Looking for a natural home remedy for toothache?
Try our OPAT Wonder mouth rinse today.
