Your Guide to Toothaches: Types & Treatment At Purity Dental

Let’s face it – toothaches aren’t fun at all. They can be painful and unpleasant while disrupting your daily activities. Sometimes, you may experience a little pain in the mouth that goes away as soon as you feel it. Or, you may experience severe tooth pain lasting more than one or two days. Often considered a dental emergency, toothaches are a cause for concern. So, seeking professional dental care when you experience tooth pain is crucial. 

The most common reasons for toothaches are: 

– Tooth decay 

– Chips and cracks in teeth 

– Gum disease 

– Impacted wisdom teeth 

– Damaged fillings

– Bruxism (teeth grinding) 

While the exact cause and the necessary treatment can only be determined by the dentist, having an understanding of the types of toothaches is important. It will help you figure out when you need urgent dental care from a professional. 

What are the Different Types of Tooth Pain? 

1. Sharp Tooth Pain 

Have you ever felt a sharp pain when you ate or drank something cold? Did it make you stop what you were doing for a moment until the pain wore off? Chances are, it’s tooth decay-causing you pain. While tooth decay is a top culprit, it could also be because of: 

– a damaged tooth, 

– a broken tooth cusp, 

– a faulty dental restoration, 

– an untreated cavity 

– bruxism (teeth grinding)

– spaces between fillings and crowns

If you experience sharp pain in your tooth, make sure you schedule an appointment with our friendly team. Don’t wait to see the dentist because, left untreated, the pain can turn into a throbbing pain that just won’t go away. 

2. Dull Tooth Pain  

A dull ache in your tooth is an indication of damage within your teeth, particularly your nerves. You are more likely to experience this dull pain when consuming hot and cold food or drinks. When you come in for a checkup, our dentists will assess the situation and perform a root canal treatment, if necessary, to remove infected tissues in the dental pulp.  

3. Severe Throbbing Pain 

A severe toothache with throbbing pain is usually a sign of an infection. If it’s an infection, you may also notice bleeding gums and facial swelling along with the pain in your tooth. Prompt treatment is important because the infection can worsen, causing irreversible damage to your teeth and mouth. 

4. Tooth Sensitivity  

Do you feel pain or discomfort whenever you eat or drink something hot or cold? If yes, you could be dealing with tooth sensitivity. This dental condition can occur as a result of:

– Tooth erosion from regular exposure to sugar and acids in food and drinks

– Gum recession that leaves the tooth roots exposed

– A worn-down enamel from teeth grinding 

– Tooth decay or cavities

Since the pain lasts only a few seconds, it’s easy to brush it off until the next time you consume something hot or cold. However, we recommend you seek professional dental care and advice to alleviate tooth sensitivity.  

5. Dental Abscess 

A tooth abscess is a dental condition that develops when a severe infection occurs in your tooth or gums. Dental infection usually stems from tooth decay, gum disease or a cracked tooth and can cause a tooth abscess if left untreated. A tooth abscess is a small pocket of pus inside your tooth or in your gums where the infection is. 

It can cause severe tooth pain and also result in a fever, swollen gums and a bad taste in your mouth. If you notice these symptoms, don’t delay dental care. Doing so will help prevent further infection in your teeth and jawbone. 

What Are The Treatment Options For Toothaches?

First things first, we can’t stress enough the importance of good oral health. Taking good care of your teeth and scheduling regular dental checkups can help prevent toothaches in the first place. 

But we understand that toothaches can sneak up on you. Even then, it’s not too late to set things right. For that, however, it’s important to seek dental care as soon as you recognise signs of a toothache. At Purity Dental, we offer emergency dental appointments for toothaches, so you don’t have to wait for relief from the pain. 

Treatment for toothaches will depend on the cause of your pain. Once we’ve identified the cause, we will create a personalised treatment plan for you. Toothache treatment typically involves:

– Root canal therapy if the nerve of the tooth is infected 

– Dental fillings to repair the damage caused by a fracture or tooth decay

– Placing a dental crown over a damaged tooth 

– Gum treatment 

– Extraction of impacted or unsalvageable teeth 

– Antibiotics in the case of an infection 

– A custom-made mouthguard if pain is caused by teeth-grinding 

What Happens If I Need A Tooth Extraction?

We strive to preserve your natural tooth as much as possible but in cases of severe infection, an extraction may be the best alternative available in order to prevent further infection and complications.

Rest assured that in such cases we prioritise your comfort and well-being above all else. Your tooth extraction will be performed by a highly trained and skilled dentist whilst utilising sleep dentistry services if necessary so you don’t feel any discomfort! We will also guide you through post-operative care so you can resume your daily routines in no time.

Leaving a missing gap in your smile untreated can lead to other dental issues, however, such as jawbone deterioration, accelerated wear and tear of remaining teeth, increased risk of cracks forming along teeth, facial sagging etc. To prevent all this and more, we may recommend dental implants if you meet the criteria.

Remember, a toothache that lasts for more than one or two days is reason enough to visit the dentist. Our friendly team will do everything possible to ease your pain and get you smiling again. Schedule an appointment or call us for more assistance.