Common Causes of Tooth Pain & Tooth Ache

Common Causes of Tooth Pain & Tooth Ache in Downsview & North York

Toothaches can be overwhelming and intolerant for anyone, and it can be challenging to determine what factors could be contributing to the cause of the tooth pain. Several factors and symptoms could be responsible for anything from a mild to excruciating toothache. Below is a list of some common causes of tooth pain. If you believe that you are experiencing the following symptoms, you should consider visiting a dentist to have your situation examined and treated.

Orthodontic Alignment

If you have recently had an adjustment on your dental alignment system like braces or retainers, you may experience soreness for a limited time. It can cause an overwhelming amount of oral discomfort and aching pain on the surrounding areas of your teeth, and the pain becomes noticeable after the adjustment of braces or retainers on your teeth. Your dentist may prescribe pain killers to help alleviate the pain and discomfort after such an adjustment. If the pain does not subside and becomes overbearing and piercing then we recommend a visit with the orthodontist to have a modification made to your orthodontic device.

Improper Brushing or Flossing

Often, patients do not consider the amount of pressure and stress they can put while brushing and flossing their teeth. Brushing and flossing too aggressively can result in the inflammation and irritation of the gums. It may also make your teeth susceptible to an indefinite amount of tooth pain.

Avoid brushing and flossing aggressively.  And always be sure to use the proper technique when brushing and flossing.  Improper oral hygiene methods may cause gums to recede which could attribute to the sensitivity and even instability of the teeth, resulting in more dental pain.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding also known as bruxism, is commonly associated with the symptoms of joint, jaw, neck, tooth, and muscular pain. It involves people who inadvertently and repeatedly grind their teeth while they are sleeping or experiencing a stressful situation.

Excessive teeth grinding can result in chipped teeth, cracked tooth, swollen gums, headaches, and sore jaw bones and joints, which could be immensely painful to tolerate. You should see your dentist for an oral assessment.  An effective treatment might be fabricating a custom-made mouthguard to keep the occurrence and pressure of teeth grinding at its minimal.

Damaged Fillings or Lost Restorations

A dentist can check to see if all your existing fillings are intact and working properly.  A lost or cracked restoration can result in fractures, exposed grooves, and deep pits in teeth resulting in sensitivity and exposed parts of the teeth. When these fillings are damaged, the sensitive areas of teeth become susceptible to temperature, foreign particles, and unwanted bacteria. It could result in pain whose severity could vary from being a dull pain to a piercing sensation. If you suspect that your dental filling has worn down or even off, you should consider seeing a dentist to have the problem examined and repaired.

Temperature Sensitivity

If you experience a sharp and acute pain after the consumption of cold or hot beverages and edibles, you are likely to have temperature sensitivity resulting from recession —a condition which makes your teeth subject to pain after drinking or eating extreme temperature drinks and food. It could be an indication of  worn out enamel and dentin, and it could be repaired with a number of simple dental treatments.

Tooth Fractures

Tooth fractures such as cracking or chipping can occur in various ways. Sports enthusiasts who participate in rigorous sports activities without the use of mouthguards, inadvertently put themselves at risk. And common household accidents can result in a fractured or chipped tooth.  Whatever the cause, your dentist is likely to have solution to restore your tooth and your smile.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is categorized by the occurrence of gum inflammation and possibly even recession of the gums and underlying bone.  This can lead to pain in your mouth, and can also result in red and bleeding gums. Gum disease can be severe in nature, and it should be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. If the dental ailment is left untreated, it could result in the permanent damage of teeth, gums, and dental bones.

Tooth Abscess

If dental decay is not treated during the early stages, it is likely to progress and cause a tooth abscess. This can occur when dental decay deteriorates to the point of damaging the nerve in your root which is supporting your tooth. This then results in the dental tissues getting infected, inflamed and very painful.  See a dentist as soon as possible to avoid decay leading to more serious problems.

Tooth Decay

The occurrence of tooth decay is one of the most common causes of a toothache. It should be treated immediately in order to avoid any further dental decay. If your dental pain becomes severe, it could be an indication that the dental decay has progressed to the nerve of your tooth, which results in an unbearable pain. If the issue is not addressed on time, it could result in permanent tooth damage and even loss.

The information provided is for general information purposes only and not intended to replace professional care. Please consult your physician or dentist for advice and diagnoses so you can be properly treated for your specific situation.