Do your last searches look like these
“Tooth pain causes”
“What causes tooth pain?”
“Common causes of tooth pain”
Then you must have experienced tooth pain at least once in your life. That sudden stinging pain when you eat something cold, like ice cream, or something hot can make your life difficult.
No matter what brought you here to read this blog, understanding what causes tooth pain or tooth pain causes and remedies become important to deal with it in the right way.
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What Causes Tooth Pain?
You might have already searched on the internet “what causes tooth pain” or “common causes of tooth pain.” Tooth pain does not just appear out of nowhere, and there is always a cause behind it. Here is a list of some common causes of tooth pain.
1) Cavities and Tooth Decay
If you ask what the reason is that ranks high in the list of tooth pain causes, it is cavities and tooth decay. Cavities start small that you might not even notice. When bacteria produce acids that consume the protective layer of your teeth, cavities form. As it increases, it reaches the nerves inside your tooth, which eventually results in pain.
2) Gum Disease
Gum disease also called periodontal disease is also one of the common causes of tooth pain. When plaque builds up along the gumline it can cause infection in the gum tissues. When gums get infected they look redder and swollen.
As this increases to periodontitis it starts infecting the bone which supports your teeth resulting in tooth sensitivity, tooth pain and if left untreated then tooth loss.
3) Tooth Abscess
Tooth abscess is one of the severe tooth pain causes. It is the body saying we have a problem here. It is an infection that creates a bubble filled with pus either at the tooth root or nearby the gums.
There are few symptoms of tooth abscess inclusing
- Throbbing pain
- Swelling
- Fever
- Bad taste in mouth
If you are experiencing these symptoms it’s time to visit your dentist.
4) Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is also one of the tooth pain causes. Remember the feeling when you eat something hot, cold, or sweet that sharp stinging pain which is temporary. That’s sensitivity. This tooth pain occurs when the protective enamel wears down exposing the dentin layer of teeth.
Sensitivity can occur from aggressive teeth brushing, gum recession, or too much consumption of acidic food, or teeth grinding habit in sleep.
5) Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Many people have a habit of grinding their teeth in sleep or when they are stressed, which is also one of the tooth pain causes.
This habit puts excessive pressure on teeth and jaw muscles which results into worn down teeth and jaw pain.
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How long does a toothache last?
Now that you have got the answer for “what causes tooth pain” let’s find out how long a toothache lasts
- Temporary Sensitivity: Might last just a few seconds
- Small cavity pain: Might come and go and come back after weeks
- Gum disease: Pain tends to hang around and gradually increases as the situation gets worse
- Tooth Abscess: The pain usually does not go away until you get the treatment
No matter what causes tooth pain normally it does not heal on its own it might go away for some time but it needs professional attention before it worsens.
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How to Manage Tooth Pain
While you wait for the dental appointment to figure out tooth pain causes, these temporary remedies can give you relief from pain for some time.
- Pain killers : Dentists prescribe pain relievers like ibuprofen, which can reduce pain for some time.
- Salt water rinses: It is one of the easiest ways to manage tooth pain which can kill bacteria and reduce swelling.
- Cold compress: A Cold compress helps with numbing the area and reduces swelling.
- Avoid food: that triggers the pain like extremely cold ice cream or a cold drink
Don’t forget these remedies are just temporary and wont treat tooth pain causes.
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When to See a Dentist
Visit your dentist if you are experiencing:
- Pain that has been stuck around for more than 2 days
- Severe pain that does not let you eat, sleep, or interfere daily activities
- Swollen face or gums
- Fever with tooth pain
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Pus discharge from gums or teeth
Never procrastinate taking consultation from your dentist if you experience any of the above tooth pain causes.
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FAQs
Q1. What is the main cause of tooth pain?
Ans. The main common causes of tooth pain include cavity, tooth decay, gum disease,Tooth abscess, and bruxism.
Q2. How to relieve toothache pain?
Ans. Book an appointment with your dentist to find out tooth pain causes and get the root cause treated. For temporary relief you can use a cold compress or salt water rinse which will kill the bacteria and reduce inflamation.
Q3. What is the 3-3-3 rule for toothache?
Ans. 3-3-3 method = 3 ibuprofen (600mg total) every 3 hours for 3 days for pain relief
Q4. What is the best home remedy for tooth pain?
Ans. Salt mixed in warm water rinses is one of the best home remedies for tooth pain, which kills bacteria and reduces inflammation
Q5. How to reduce tooth pain at night?
Ans. Pain killer medication like ibuprofen can help in managing the pain at night.
Your teeth cannot recover on their own, they need professional help so dentist can find out the tooth pain cause. Leaving them untreated can lead to bigger problems in the future.
At AO Dentistry, we help you figure out what causes tooth pain and bring back your smile again.
Call +91 96575 80595 to schedule your appointment today with AO Dentistry.