Basically, tooth pain or toothache may be caused by taking cold or hot drinks, an injury or other various dental conditions. Sometimes, the pain may also originate from around the jaw. The seriousness of toothache varies from mild to severe. The pain may only last for a few minutes but it can also become chronic. If you are wondering why my tooth hurts so badly, you should visit a dentist to determine the cause of this tooth pain and the best way to cure it.
Why My Tooth Hurts
Tooth Cavity
A dental cavity is simply a structural damage or hole in a tooth. The bacteria in the mouth consume the starch and sugars from food lodged between the teeth. This generates certain acid that corrodes the teeth enamel slowly which eventually leaves a hole in the tooth. If this hole reaches the pulp cavity, the nerves will be exposed, leading to teeth sensitivity and pain.
Pulp Inflammation
This condition is also referred to as the pulpitis. It is a condition whereby the central part of the tooth, known as the pulp, becomes irritated and swollen. This inflammation increases the pressure within the tooth, releases it on other tooth tissues and leads to tooth pain. The severity of this condition varies from mild to extreme. If you are suffering from this condition, it is vital that you seek medical attention to ease the pain and cure the condition.
Dental Abscess
Dental abscess is a condition where the tooth pulp is infected due to a bacterial build-up. This infection then try to drain through the root tips of the tooth. This will cause inflation of tissues and pain with time, especially if not taken care of. In most cases, this infection is easy to see through a dental x-ray.
Cracked Tooth
Over time, teeth may be weakened due to pressure caused by biting and chewing of food. Biting on hard food, such as popcorn kernel and ice, may also cause the teeth to crack. Some of the symptoms of cracked tooth include: pain when biting and chewing foods, sensitivity of teeth to sour, sweet, cold or hot foods and drinks. Treatment for this condition varies depending on the severity, direction and location of the crack.
Gum Disease
Periodontitis and gingivitis are some of the most common dental infections. These diseases affect the gums that hold the teeth in place leading to gum deterioration. The gums become detached from the teeth that encourages the buildup of bacteria. Then the root of the teeth is exposed, vulnerable to decay and sore.
Sensitivity of Tooth
The toothache may also be caused by tooth sensitivity to cold or hot air, foods and drinks. If your teeth are sensitive, you will experience sharp pain when your teeth come into contact with such items. To combat this, your dentist may advise you to brush your teeth with special toothpastes, such as Sensodyne, which are specially formulated for sensitive teeth. Alternatively, the dentist may also apply fluoride to the teeth to minimize sensitivity. Regardless of the severity, you should notify your dentist whenever you experience dental sensitivity.
Sinus Infection
In addition to these, tooth pain may also be caused by non-dental causes. Sinus congestion or sinus infection may lead to tooth sensitivity. Sometimes the pain caused by this infection can feel a lot like having a toothache, especially on the upper teeth because they are situated just under the sinus cavities. If your dentist suspects this to be the cause of your tooth pain, he or she may use a decongestant to relieve the pain.
Home Remedies for Painful Tooth
Leave the Painful Teeth Alone
Generally, you should avoid using the painful teeth in biting and chewing until the pain is gone. In addition, you should also cover any cracks and holes in the teeth with either dental wax or softened chewing gum until you see the dentist.
Clean the Mouth Thoroughly
With regards to teeth cleaning, you should brush your teeth regularly and floss the teeth carefully to get rid of food particles lodged in between the teeth, especially the aching teeth. You should then rinse your mouth thoroughly. Swishing warm water rapidly in the mouth can also help to loosen food particles lodged in the teeth. You should brush your teeth at least two times per day and floss at least once per day.
Apply Cold Compress
Regarding a cold compress, you should wrap ice in a thin cloth or a plastic bag and apply it to the jaw line next to the paining region for about 10 to 15 minutes. This slows the flow of blood to the affected region and reduces swelling and pain in the region. Then take a break of about 10 to 15 minutes and repeat the procedure.
Take Pain Medication
To ease the pain, you should use over-the-counter pain relievers, including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium and aspirin. Refer to the label of the drug for specific prescription. Alternatively, you may also apply over-the-counter topical ointment that contain benzocaine on the affected tooth or gum to relieve toothache. As a precaution, painkillers such as aspirin should never be applied directly on the teeth or gums. They will burn the teeth and gums and hence worsen the pain.
A Video About Three Other Homeremedies
Besides the above methods, there are many other home remedies for toothache. Watch the following video to learn three simple homemade pastes that are really useful for ease painful tooth:
Medical Treatments for Painful Tooth
Fill the Decayed Tooth
If the tooth pain is caused by a cavity or tooth decay, the dentist will probably fill the tooth to ease the pain. The dentist drills the affected part of the tooth and fills it with amalgam or a composite filling. Since these fillings become loose or break down with age, the dentist will drill the filling, remove any further decay and fill the tooth again after some time.
Use a Dental Crown
It is mainly used on severe pulpitis, tooth decay, severe infections and tooth fractures. If a large part of the tooth is affected, if the afftected tooth pulp should be removed, or if the tooth is extremely abrased or fractured, filling may not be substantial. Therefore a dental crown is installed to protect the tooth.
Manage Gum Recession
Dental pain may be as a result of gum recession. If this is the case, the dentist will probably use graft tissue to replace the damaged gum tissue obtained from the neighboring tissues of the mouth or the palate. Besoides, the dentist may also use synthetic gum tissue to replace the damaged gum tissue.
Remove the Painful Tooth
If the condition causing the pain is more adverse, tooth removal may be the only solution to the pain. Additionally, the wisdom tooth may be removed to reduce teeth crowding. Crowded teeth exert pressure on each other hence leading to teeth pain.
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