There isn’t much more annoying than tooth pain. If you’ve experienced tooth pain, you probably realize it’s not one of those things you can easily ignore. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint what is causing your mouth pain, but understanding your specific symptoms may give insight into what is going on.
Let’s look at what your pain may be telling you.
Tooth Sensitivity
Some people experience generalized tooth sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures. Usually, this type of sensitivity comes when exposed to extreme temperature changes, but symptoms often go away when the irritating source is taken away. This type of sensitivity is not usually serious, although it can be annoying.
If you have generalized tooth sensitivity, you can try replacing your regular sensitivity with sensitive toothpaste such as Sensodyne. Simply brushing with this toothpaste twice a day may help alleviate sensitive teeth symptoms. Also, avoid toothpaste geared toward whitening your teeth, as many of these kinds of toothpaste are highly abrasive and will worsen your symptoms.
A Dull Ache
A dull, nagging toothache is the most common type of toothache. A dull ache is typically a mild one, but it tends to be persistent. Consult your dentist to get to the core cause of this dull ache. Most people will try painkillers to alleviate pain, but it is only a temporary solution.
Sharp Tooth Pain
Sharp tooth pain usually comes and goes pretty quick. A common cause of acute tooth pain can be recession, but it can also be a symptom of having a fracture line in your tooth. When you bite down on your fractured tooth, it will cause the tooth to splay.
When you release and open your mouth back up, you may notice a sharp pain. The pain will feel like a zinger radiating from your tooth. Ouch!! This is your fractured tooth squeezing back together and pinching the nerve in the center of your tooth, sending the message to your brain.
If this is the pain you feel, call your dentist as soon as possible. They will want to take a look to avoid further cracking and more pain.
Throbbing Tooth Pain
Have you ever experienced a throbbing headache? You know that it feels as though your head is in sync with your heartbeat if you have. This is also not a pain to be ignored as a tooth infection can lead to a very similar feeling. Call your dentist and let them know of your symptoms as soon as possible.
Debilitating Tooth Pain
Tooth pain that wakes you up from a deep sleep or that keeps you from your daily activities is what we consider to be debilitating tooth pain. This tooth pain is most often related to a painful, infected tooth.
An infected tooth often builds up pressure, and eventually, a fistula may form. The infection may drain out through this fistula, initially offering some relief to you. You might notice the pressure and pain subside for a while, but it usually doesn’t last long as the infection continues to fester and build. A few days later, you might be back in the debilitating pain stage.
I Had A Root Canal. Why Does My Tooth Still Feel Weird?
It may seem crazy, but it’s possible that you’ve had a root canal, and you still feel pain in the place where oral surgery was performed. This is commonly referred to as phantom tooth pain.
Symptoms of phantom tooth pain may be described as being mild to severe, and the pain is neurological rather than physical, so it can be more challenging to diagnose. There are many different treatments available such as acupuncture and nerve stimulation, that have been shown to help diminish phantom tooth pain.
Tooth pain, especially tooth infection, is never something to mess around with. Infection in one body area can spread to other regions, so treating and eliminating the disease is of most significant importance.
As you can see, tooth pain can mean many different things. Dentists have the knowledge and technology to evaluate your situation and get you back on your feet again!
