Pain in your teeth can feel debilitating and excruciating. You might struggle to go about your usual schedule when your teeth hurt. Even if you think you can tolerate this pain, it could be a symptom of a larger issue with your oral health that may need intervention from your dentist.
Do not ignore your tooth pain. Contact your dentist about this symptom as soon as you can. You might also realize that not all tooth pain feels the same. Different levels of pain can point to varying concerns with your smile.
Your dentist can let you know the root of this problem. But if you know more about your pain levels, you can have a better understanding of the treatment you might need. Read on to learn about three types of pain that can develop in your tooth and what they can mean for your dental health.
Tooth Sensitivity
Do you feel a sharp jolt of pain in your tooth when you bite down on certain foods? This pain might fade after your tooth stops touching the object, but it can feel severe enough to disrupt your usual routine.
This tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel, the outer layer of your tooth, wears down, exposing underlying nerves in the tooth’s interior. When food or another item touches these nerves, they send pain signals to your brain.
Enamel erosion can happen for several reasons, including poor oral care, dental injuries, or decay. Tooth sensitivity cannot go away on its own because enamel will not regenerate.
But a dentist can treat tooth sensitivity according to the specific cause of your symptom. For instance, they can get rid of a cavity or replace thinned enamel with restorative dental solutions like a crown.
Dull Ache in the Tooth
A constant, dull toothache may develop in a few ways. It can happen in an acute scenario, as something stuck between the teeth. Or it may occur due to a chronic issue like teeth grinding or clenching.
Regardless, you should not ignore this toothache, even if you think you can live with it. You should seek evaluation for this issue promptly from your dentist before the pain worsens.
Severe Tooth Pain
Throbbing, severe tooth pain is nearly impossible to ignore for many people. If you feel a strong, pulsating, sharp pain deep in your tooth, call your dentist right away.
This pain could happen if you develop an infection within your tooth. You might require root canal therapy to treat the problem. You will need this treatment urgently before the issue spreads and worsens.
This intense pain can also occur if you fracture a tooth. You might not always see tooth breakage with the naked eye, but it can happen due to a major blow to the face or even everyday actions like chewing and biting. Seek prompt attention from your dentist for this pain.
You do not have to wait until your regularly scheduled dental check-up. Contact your dentist for an emergency dental appointment if you feel tooth pain of any kind.