Why Does My Tooth Hurt? 5 Possible Answers

If you are suffering from pain in your teeth or gums contact your dentist as soon as possible to book an appointment. Today our dentists in Manitoba discuss five possible reasons why you might be experiencing pain in your mouth and how you can manage it until you get to your dental appointment.

What can cause tooth & gum pain?

Whether the pain you are experiencing in your tooth or gums is minimal or severe, it's always a good idea to have your dentist determine the cause and start treatment as early as possible to prevent the pain from spreading or getting worse. Most of the time, a good oral care routine can help you avoid tooth pain and discomfort. Although there are many things that can cause toothaches and gum pain such as the following:

Cavity/Tooth Decay

Even though cavities usually happen gradually, the pain can come on suddenly. This should be treated as soon as possible to prevent an infection.

Grinding, Trauma, or Injury

Whether you grind your teeth in your sleep and gradually wear them down, or you sustain an injury in some more immediate manner, for example, while playing sports, a fractured or damaged tooth can be very painful – don’t ignore it. Your dentist might recommend treating it with a filling, crown, or bonding.

Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how you can help stop this harmful habit.

Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth get impacted, they often become quite painful due to the pressure they inflict on the surrounding teeth or infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause secondary issues including tooth damage and crowding if there isn’t enough space for them to properly erupt.

Abscessed Tooth

Bacterial infections can lead to pockets filled with pus. This doesn't just create painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.

Gum Disease

Gum disease (periodontal disease) can range from an early-stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist will be able to treat your gingivitis with a procedure called scaling and root planing – the process of removing plaque buildup from the gum line.

For a more urgent case that has developed into severe gum disease, you might need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.

Other Potential Causes

You should know that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily mean a serious problem.

Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth could help. You should also try avoiding extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.

If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this might be cause for more concern, such as gum recession, and you will need to visit your dentist.

There are also times when issues causing your tooth pain can be from outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.

However, it’s still worth booking an appointment with your dentist as ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious issues. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.

What Helps Tooth Pain?

If you are wondering how to relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the issue can be diagnosed and treated.

In the meantime, there are a few home remedies for tooth pain you can try. Apply an ice pack or take over-the-counter pain medications to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.