Seven Common Causes of Toothaches

A toothache can begin suddenly, even while you’re sleeping. One can start as a slight sensitivity and slowly develop into a more severe toothache over days, weeks, or longer. The cause can be something as simple as a popcorn hull or as complicated as a dental infection. Most of the time, you need to contact your dentist as soon as you notice a toothache to have it resolved as quickly as possible. Listed below are seven common causes of toothaches.

Trident General Dentistry offers superior dental care in Charleston, SC. Book an appointment with us today!

[Schedule Appointment

Tooth Decay

Enamel is the white outer covering of the tooth and is the hardest substance in the human body. Enamel protects the more sensitive structures beneath it, called dentin and the dental pulp. Once tooth decay destroys the enamel, the tooth becomes sensitive to air, heat, and cold. As the decay continues deeper into the tooth, it gets closer to the tooth’s nerve or dental pulp. The deeper decay can cause a throbbing toothache that creates a dental emergency.

Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth can result from sports trauma, grinding or clenching your teeth, or biting on a hard object. These cracks can make part of the tooth chip off, or a crack can remain invisible to the naked eye. Your dentist might detect them using magnifying instruments, but some undetected cracks can cause severe pain. Cracked teeth are challenging to diagnose and treat because it’s difficult to determine the extent of the crack. Some cracks respond to simple fillings or a dental crown. When the pain persists, root canal treatments may resolve the pain. Occasionally, a cracked tooth requires extraction because the toothache continues after all possible treatments.

Abscessed Tooth

A dental abscess occurs when the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected.

The causes of an abscessed tooth include:

·       Deep tooth decay

·       A fractured tooth

·       Advanced periodontal disease

·       Trauma

·       A deep dental restoration

The pain from a dental abscess can range from mild to severe and is often accompanied by a swelling in the gum, cheek, or jaw. An abscessed tooth requires either a root canal treatment or extraction to eliminate the infection.

Defective Dental Filling

A filling that fails to remove all the decay and adequately seal the cavity can cause mild sensitivity or a more severe toothache. Some fillings wear down and become defective over time. All fillings need replacing eventually and should be done as soon as you notice any sensitivity.

Gum Disease

Gum disease begins with mild inflammation of your gums that becomes more severe if left untreated. This inflammation can involve the ligament that attaches the tooth to the socket. This ligament has many nerve fibers. When it’s inflamed, tooth pain can become severe, especially when biting on the tooth. Gum disease can also cause an infection that causes the gums to swell and make your teeth hurt.

Erupting Tooth

When a tooth erupts into your mouth, it can cause intense pain. This usually occurs with erupting wisdom teeth when the overlying tissue becomes inflamed or infected. This condition, known as pericoronitis, can lead to severe swelling and requires immediate attention to prevent a serious infection.

Teeth Grinding

When you grind your teeth, you place a great deal of stress on your teeth and jaws. This strain can damage teeth and cause toothaches that requires a night guard for pain relief.

Make an Appointment with Trident General Dentistry

These are the seven common causes of toothaches. If you have a toothache, schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry as soon as possible to resolve the issue.

Schedule Appointment

Scroll to Top