Find out the 14 reasons behind your toothache. Don't carry it. Get it fixed
As the saying goes, "Toothache is not a disease. It hurts like hell." Toothache attacks can make it difficult to chew, talk, focus, and even sleep at night. Drinking cold water, chewing Chinese prickly ash, and taking pain killers... Little did we know that carrying them will only aggravate potential problems, and untreated toothache may eventually lead to tooth loss.
The website of the American Journal of Health summarized 14 causes of toothache. It is easier to treat toothache before it becomes serious.
Cause 1: Caries
It means that the tooth has been eroded into a hole, that is, the hard outer surface (enamel) of the tooth has been eroded. Caries may not show any symptoms at first, but it will eventually lead to toothache, especially if the tooth cavity becomes very large, close to the nerves in the teeth. Dental caries is the most common cause of toothache.
Severe dental caries usually cause severe pain, enough to wake people up, and the pain will increase when they lie down. Caries with mild symptoms are easy to be ignored, but when patients can't bear the pain, they need root canal therapy.
Reason 2: Excessive exercise
Exercise is good for your physical and mental health, but will it hurt your teeth? A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine and Science pointed out that there is such a possibility. The researchers found that triathletes who had undergone endurance training had a higher risk of tooth erosion (enamel loss due to acid on teeth) than those who did not exercise. The longer they exercise each week, the more likely they are to have multiple cavities. Dentists speculate that this is related to their reduced salivary secretion.
More than 90% of saliva is water, which is exhaled out of the mouth through the mouth. Dry mouth is at risk of dental caries because bacteria thrive in this environment. If you often take a long time of strenuous training, sweat a lot and breathe heavily, it will cause insufficient water and toothache.
Cause 3: The filler falls off
If too much force is applied to the area, or if the material breaks, the filling in the caries will fall off. Decay around or under the filler can also cause damage. Some patients did not even feel the filler fall off until they bit the food. When they chew, food will be pushed into this area, filling the cavity, causing pressure. This area is also sensitive to cold and hot sour and sweet.
Cause 4: Abscess
When food particles are sandwiched between your teeth and you continue chewing, they push food into your gums. Over time, this can cause inflammation and pain. It can cause abscesses along the gum line, where residual food and debris decay and breed infection. You may notice swelling or even pus in the area of the abscess.
The earlier the treatment, the better, because untreated abscesses can lead to gum disease. Flossing your teeth every day can solve this problem.
Cause 5: Broken teeth
Toothache may be caused by a broken or broken tooth. It is usually not the whole tooth that breaks, but a piece. Biting hard things can cause teeth to break. If the broken tooth is not completely shed or removed in time, it will cause toothache. Depending on the severity of the fracture, patients may need a crown or implants to replace severely damaged teeth.
Cause 6: Wisdom teeth
If your wisdom teeth are trying to emerge from an awkward position in the gums, or there is not enough space, it will definitely cause toothache. Once they penetrate, the risk of gum inflammation or infection increases because wisdom teeth are difficult to reach with toothbrush and floss. Although the patient felt pain and discomfort, the degree was not as severe as that of severe caries.
Many people can benefit from the removal of wisdom teeth. For others, this operation may be unnecessary or even risky, depending on the position of wisdom teeth. If wisdom teeth cause toothache, try ibuprofen.
Cause 7: Bruxism at night
Most people who grind their teeth at night do not realize that they are doing this. Molars are also associated with headaches, facial muscle pain, and jaw stiffness. Molars can even cause teeth to break. Although some patients will be required to wear a tooth guard, this method is not always effective. When the patient woke up, he did not know that the tooth guard had fallen off.
In this case, Botox injection is a good choice, which can prevent the muscles that move the chin from producing the same amount of force. Many dentists have been trained to use Botox, which should be injected every 3 to 4 months.
Cause 8: bite the chin when the pressure is high
Toothache caused by grinding teeth or clenching the chin is overall, or at least one side of the chin, rather than a specific tooth. Even if you don't grind your teeth at night, you may clench your teeth during the day. This is a common stress reaction, and dentists know how to teach patients to relax. The simplest way is to take deep breaths repeatedly, which can help relax facial muscles.
Cause 9: Temporomandibular joint disorder
The temporomandibular joint connects the side of the head and chin. It allows people to yawn, chew and talk. The dysfunction of this joint can cause jaw pain, which feels like toothache. The pain is similar to the pain of grinding or clenching the teeth, but it is located near the ear.
An obvious sign of temporomandibular joint disorder is a clicking or popping sound when the patient tries to open his mouth. The pain may disappear by itself, and the dentist will advise the patient to apply ice to the painful part. If you have temporomandibular joint disorder, you should try to reduce the extra activities of your chin, such as chewing gum. Some patients need surgery, although it is rare.
Cause 10: gingival atrophy
Some people with sensitive teeth will have gingival atrophy, which causes the enamel on the gingival line to be worn. This is just like the tooth surface is not covered, exposed to the external environment. The pain will not last, but it will occur every time the tooth touches hot or cold food. Brushing with a professional anti sensitive toothpaste (such as Comfortable) can alleviate this problem, but you should stick to it.
Cause 11: Gingival infection
Although gum infection does not cause pain inside the teeth, it is difficult for the body to distinguish between toothache and gum pain. Slight gum disease is called gingivitis, which can cause the gums to become red and swollen, causing some discomfort. Regular brushing and flossing can nip this toothache in the bud.
If not treated, gingivitis will develop into periodontitis, which is a more serious gum disease. Patients can take painkillers in a short time. The dentist will decide whether antibiotics are needed to treat the infection or additional treatment.
Cause 12: The tooth was hit hard
If you are unlucky enough to be hit on the chin by a softball or baseball, it will also cause toothache. There are arteries, veins and nerves in the limited space of each tooth, and the damage to the tooth will cause swelling. As the swelling inside the teeth has nowhere to go, the pressure will accumulate and the brain will interpret it as toothache. As long as you don't bite too hard things, most minor tooth injuries will disappear in a few days.
Cause 13: Teeth need to be corrected
Anyone who has undergone orthodontic surgery knows that this procedure can cause pain and discomfort. It is usually helpful to take anti-inflammatory drugs within 24 to 48 hours after orthodontic surgery.
Cause 14: Sinusitis attack
If your teeth ache during the cold or hay fever season, it may be related to the sinuses. The bottom of the sinuses is at the top of the teeth. The sinuses are filled with mucus, causing pain above the teeth.
Another common way to determine whether this toothache is related to the sinuses is that the pain is not limited to just one tooth. If sinusitis is caused, several teeth in this area will be very sensitive. In this case, the best way is to remove the infection.
