6 Reasons Why You Could Be Experiencing Tooth Pain

If your teeth hurt, it may be enough to merely change some of your habits to get rid of the pain. However, if the tooth pain is worse then you should make a routine visit the dentist in order to find a way to stop the pain.

We’re sure you know that one of the greatest discomforts to experience is tooth pain. If we add this to having to go to the dentist and any treatment to get rid of this pain, then the whole experience is not a pleasant one.

Fortunately, not all cases require a tooth extraction. Sometimes we only need to monitor our habits, as confirmed by the National Council of Dentists in this report.

This is why today we’re going to tell you about the main reasons why you may be experiencing tooth pain.

You brush your teeth too hard

One of the reasons why your teeth can hurt can be from brushing too hard or applying too much pressure when you brush your teeth, according to the study conducted by CES University (Colombia). Sometimes, we have the impression that if we brush our teeth harder, the cleaning will be deeper. But don’t overdo it, it could cause more problems.

Brushing your teeth too hard can damage the structure of the coating on your teeth. This can cause the roots, or part of them, to be exposed. Over time, you may become overly sensitive when you drink or eat things that are too hot or too cold.

Therefore, it’s important to avoid brushing your teeth too hard. However, if it’s already a problem, you should visit your dentist to discuss possible solutions. Sometimes a substitute for the part of the gum that covers the teeth can be placed to achieve the original effect.

A good option for brushing your teeth is to invest in an electric toothbrush or an extra soft-bristled manual toothbrush.

You have experienced trauma to your teeth

Maybe you think that tooth trauma can’t be the reason why your teeth hurt. After all, if you had any trauma on your teeth you would have noticed, right? Well, that’s not actually the case.

This is because in some cases  trauma doesn’t start bothering you until many years after it has occurred. 

For instance, any type of accident can damage your mouth or your teeth and it’s possible that you may not realize it. Therefore, if you’ve had an accident, it’s important that your dentist checks your teeth regularly in order to prevent any long-term consequences.

You have periodontal (gum) disease

The skin that covers the upper part of the teeth can become infected, and this could cause serious consequence, as this study (scroll to end of study for English text) from the Hospital of Rocio, Seville, Spain, shows. It’s really quite a common problem.

This disease occurs when germs or bacteria enter the teeth or the area where the gums protect the teeth. Here, these germs and bacteria multiply until the point where the immune system can’t fight them off.

Gum disease causes:

• Pain
• Bloody gums
• Reddening around the teeth
• A bad taste in the mouth
• Pus

It’s important that you clean your teeth well if you have gum disease, as this study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine confirms. It’s possible that you could feel pain and try to avoid doing this when you suffer from this disease.

However, if you avoid cleaning your teeth, you run the risk of developing abscesses, which make the problem worse.

In the most severe cases, it’s important to visit the dentist so that he or she can clean the infected area and tooth. Furthermore, your dentist will also prescribe you some antibiotics and a special type of mouthwash to fight the infection.

You put too much pressure on your teeth when you sleep

Has your partner mentioned that you grind your teeth while you sleep? This happens because you put too much pressure on your teeth, and could be the reason why they hurt. This is called bruxism, according to this report from the University of Chile.

This is because putting too much pressure on your teeth can cause fractured teeth and even tooth loss. It’s very important that your dentist looks at all your teeth to check whether they’re all fine, to measure them and to look at any exterior or interior damage there may be.

Don’t wait until the pain gets worse. Even if it doesn’t hurt much, or not at all, if your partner has told you that you grind your teeth, then visit the dentist. If the problem is not serious, your dentist can give you a retainer that protects your teeth at night.

On the other hand, if the problem is serious, your dentist can tell you that it’s better to remove the damaged tooth and replace it with a dental prosthetic, or there could be other options for you.

You have a broken tooth

Another reason why your teeth could hurt could be that you have a fractured or broken tooth. There are many causes for this problem.

For instance, things such as biting something very hard, a hard hit to the mouth, an accident, or just simply wear and tear, can fracture or break your teeth.

In this situation, it’s common to feel pain when you eat or drink very hot or very cold things. In some cases, you can see the damage to the tooth by simply looking at it, if the damage is on the surface. In other cases, your dentist will ask for an x-ray to locate the problem.

It’s important that you visit the dentist when you see that your tooth is broken, or even if you think that it is. Otherwise, the fracture could continue through the tooth and permanently damage it.

Furthermore, cavities can easily form if the fracture isn’t covered correctly.

If  you experience tooth pain, take action now

There are various causes and solutions for tooth pain. Fortunately, you won’t have to grapple with this inconvenience for a long time. Ask for a dental appointment as soon as possible, and let him or her help you control the situation.

Also, think about how not treating a little pain or discomfort in today’s society could lead to infections and more sharp pain in the future.