Your Winnipeg Invisalign® Provider
If you are suffering from tooth or gum pain, reach out to your dentist right away to schedule an appointment. Our Winnipeg dentists provide insights into 5 possible causes of your tooth pain and offer suggestions for managing it until your appointment.
What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Whether the toothache pain is minor or severe, you should always have a dentist diagnose its underlying cause as soon as possible. In most cases, a rigorous oral hygiene routine will prevent toothaches or discomfort. However, many potential factors can cause tooth or gum pain, including the following
Cavity/Tooth Decay
While cavities usually come on gradually, pain often occurs suddenly. To prevent infections from developing, cavities should be taken care of quickly.
Grinding, Trauma, or Injury
If you experience tooth damage or sensitivity, it is important not to ignore it. Whether it's due to teeth grinding or an injury, these issues can be quite painful. It is advisable to consult your dentist who may suggest treatments such as fillings, crowns, or bonding to address the problem.
Additionally, if teeth grinding is a concern, you can ask your dentist for advice on breaking this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they often become quite painful due to the pressure they inflict on the surrounding teeth or infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to secondary issues including tooth damage and crowding if there isn’t enough space for them to erupt properly.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections may lead to pockets filled with pus. This not only creates painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.
Gum Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) can range from early-stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist may 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’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Potential Causes
It's important to know that temporary tooth sensitivity is common and usually not a cause for concern. Using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth can help alleviate the discomfort. Avoiding extremely hot or cold foods and drinks can also provide relief until the sensitivity subsides.
If the sensitivity persists for more than a couple of days, it may indicate a more serious issue such as gum recession, and it's advisable to see your dentist for further evaluation.
Keep in mind that tooth pain can sometimes be caused by factors outside of the mouth, such as viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches, or colds.
It's still recommended to schedule an appointment with your dentist, as they can more accurately diagnose the source of the pain. Ignoring or self-diagnosing the pain may lead to more severe problems. Most dental pain requires professional assessment and treatment.
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 taking over-the-counter pain medication to reduce pain and inflammation. In some cases, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.