How Severe Is Tooth Pain? Causes And Treatments
Tooth pain is usually caused by a cavity or an infection in the tooth. The pain can be mild or severe, and it can last for a short time or for several days.
Common Causes Of Tooth Pain!
Toothache symptoms vary depending on what’s causing them. For example, if you have a cavity, you may feel sensitivity when biting down on certain foods.
If you have an abscess (pus-filled pocket) in your jaw bone, you’ll likely feel pain deep inside your mouth rather than on the surface of the tooth itself. You may also experience fever and swelling around the infected area.
The following are the most common reasons why a person may experience tooth pain:
Tooth Decay: This is one of the most common causes of pain in the mouth. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria that live in the mouth break down sugars, which cause acid to form. The acid then dissolves the hard outer layer of the tooth (enamel) and can eventually reach down into the softer inner layers (dentin). The result is tooth decay or cavities.
Sensitive teeth: If you have sensitive teeth, it means that your teeth are more likely to be irritated by hot or cold foods and drinks. This can also be triggered by exposure to air, such as when chewing gum or breathing through your mouth. Some people may experience sensitivity for no apparent reason at all, which makes it even harder to pinpoint what’s causing it.
Gum Disease: Periodontal disease is an infection that inflames and destroys the soft tissue and bone around your teeth — including gums and jawbones — which can lead to serious health issues if left untreated. Gum disease occurs when plaque bacteria build up on your teeth, creating tartar (calculus) deposits that destroy healthy gum tissue and bone support around each tooth.
Dry socket: After tooth extraction, a blood clot is formed inside the socket to help stop bleeding and it should naturally dissolve within a week or so after the procedure. If this clot gets dislodged, it may cause an infection called dry socket (alveolar osteitis). The symptoms include pain, swelling, and bad breath. Dry socket occurs more often when there is an inadequate blood supply to the area because of smoking or poor oral hygiene after surgery.
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that happens when plaque builds up on your teeth and gums, causing them to become inflamed and sore. You may experience bleeding from brushing or flossing too hard, bad breath, swollen gums, sores in your mouth, or loose teeth if you have this condition.
Infection: Bacteria that live in your mouth can infect the soft tissues inside your teeth, causing them to swell or bleed. This can lead to toothache, which often gets worse when you eat or drink hot or cold food and drink alcohol. If you have a toothache that doesn’t respond to simple treatments such as painkillers (analgesics) and antibiotics, make an appointment with your dentist immediately. He or she may need to remove the infected tooth (extraction) if it’s close to the root tip (the root tip is what remains of your baby tooth after it has fallen out).
Treatments
If you’re experiencing tooth pain, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Here’s what you need to know about common treatments when it comes to dental pain and what you can do to prevent it from happening in the future.
1. Local Anesthetic: Local anesthetics are often used for a number of dental procedures, including root canals and fillings, in order to numb the area around the tooth and make it less painful for the patient.
2. Corticosteroid: A corticosteroid is a steroid drug that works by reducing inflammation or swelling in the mouth, which can reduce pain as well. It’s also used to reduce swelling from oral infections like gingivitis or periodontal disease.
3. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are prescribed when bacteria has entered the mouth and caused an infection, causing swelling and inflammation that results in tooth pain. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if there’s been trauma to your teeth that resulted in damage or infection within your gums or jawbone tissue — this kind of trauma can sometimes cause nerve damage too if not treated quickly enough!
Dr. Edward Zelman
Dr. Edward Zelman works as a Neurologist with the expertise of over 15 years, helping more than thousands to get back in complete health through his research-proven treatments. He earned his Masters from Harvard University and completed his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Dr. Edward Zelman is one of the notable names in the medical industry for his work in pain management, chronic disorder, and so on. He is also a former faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At present, Dr. Edward Zelman is researching safe and effective natural remedies that can restore as well as maintain the youthful functioning of the body.
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