Pain in your tooth can be a debilitating and excruciating experience. Even if you think you can tolerate this discomfort, you should not dismiss or ignore it. Oral pain can point to a serious underlying dental concern.
Tooth pain can present in differing degrees of intensity, and these variances can illustrate different concerns in your smile. Contact your dentist about your tooth pain as soon as you can so that they can evaluate the issue and provide treatment accordingly. But you can also learn about three types of tooth pain and what they may mean for your oral health when you read on.
Tooth Sensitivity
Have you ever felt a sudden jolt of pain in your tooth when you bite down on food? This intense but intermittent pain is known as tooth sensitivity. It occurs when an external stimulus, like food, touches an exposed nerve within the tooth.
Usually, your teeth feature a hard layer called enamel that shields these nerves in the tooth’s interior. But if enamel sustains damage, then it cannot properly stop stimulation from reaching these nerves. The nerves transmit pain signals to the brain when touched, but the pain will stop with the removal of the stimulus.
But pain that comes and goes is still abnormal and warrants attention from a dentist. Exposed internal nerves in a tooth also mean that the tooth remains vulnerable to other dental problems. And underlying oral health concerns like cavities can generate this type of tooth pain as well. So do not ignore the issue.
Dull, Constant Toothache
If you notice a persistent but dull ache in your tooth, you might wonder if this less severe pain is a big deal. But as mentioned, oral pain can develop for a number of reasons, including serious ones.
A low-grade toothache might occur for an acute reason, such as something stuck between your teeth. The constant pressure of the foreign item will push on the teeth with will exert strain on the area.
Habits like teeth grinding or clenching will exert similar pressure and strain that could lead to this type of tooth pain as well. Talk to your dentist about this symptom to prevent these behaviors from leading to worse oral health conditions.
Intense, Throbbing Oral Pain
Severe pain in a tooth that seems to throb can prove difficult to ignore and majorly affect your everyday life. Do not try to endure this discomfort. Call your dentist for emergency dental attention so that you do not have to suffer.
This intense tooth pain might happen if you have an infection in your tooth. In many cases, you may need root canal therapy to relieve the discomfort and stop further dental harm.
A fracture in a tooth can also cause severe pain in a tooth. Tooth breakage does not always have a visible crack, so visit your dentist if you think you injured a tooth. They can provide treatment to restore the tooth’s structure and also stop the pain.