Tooth pain is never fun. If you’re experiencing any type of tooth discomfort, whether it’s mild or severe, it’s important to get your pain checked out by a professional dentist. Tooth pain is typically a sign that something’s wrong with your teeth, and addressing the problem sooner rather than later can help you prevent the problem—and your pain—from getting any worse.

What are some of the most common reasons that teeth cause pain? Here are a few of the top reasons why your teeth could be hurting!

Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is pain you may feel in your teeth after consuming something very hot, very cold, or even sweet or spicy foods and drinks. For some people, this pain is a sharp, sudden discomfort, while for others, it may be an aching feeling that emerges soon after consuming certain types of food.

Although tooth sensitivity is relatively common, it’s almost always a sign that your tooth enamel—the protective layer over your teeth—has been damaged in some way [1]. As a result, getting this damage checked out is important to ensuring your smile is healthy, as tooth enamel damage could be a sign of gum disease, tooth decay, or even a tooth injury.

Injury to the Tooth

Any type of injury to your tooth can cause tooth pain. A crack or a chip in the tooth are the most common types of injuries, but you may also have experienced an impact to the tooth that’s caused a bruised or broken tooth.

These injuries can result in short-term discomfort, but they can also mean long-term consequences. Any type of injury to your teeth should be evaluated by your dentist so you can prevent further damage from occurring!

Gum Disease

Many people don’t realize that gum disease can also cause tooth pain. The reason for this is because gum disease can cause the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth, which can cause tooth roots to become exposed, therefore causing painful tooth sensitivity [2]. The bacteria involved in gum disease can also damage tooth enamel over time, leading to more tooth pain and discomfort.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can cause pain for two reasons. The first is that decay damages the tooth enamel, and can cause tooth sensitivity that gets worse over time. The second reason is that, when left untreated, tooth decay can reach the center of the tooth, which is where the nerves of your tooth are located. Once the decay reaches this point, a painful tooth infection or toothache can result [3].

Treatment for Tooth Pain

The good news is that there is treatment for whatever tooth pain you’re experiencing. Whether you have sensitive teeth or are experiencing a severe toothache, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist about your tooth pain so you can get the issue taken care of and enjoy a pain-free smile!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3819160/
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/sensitive-teeth
3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tooth-decay/