Aches and pains happen to all of us, and most of the time we just ignore it and hope it’ll get better. Pains in your mouth, on the other hand, are something you should definitely pay attention to. A cramp in your back or a sore joint is probably nothing, but toothaches are serious problems – your body is trying to tell you something! In this posts, we will be going over the reasons as to what causes toothaches.
At Shorewood Family Dental Care we consider each and every toothache to be an emergency. We want to relieve your pain as soon as possible, so don’t hesitate to call us as soon as you can. We always try to see emergency patients the same day they call! For additional tips, take a look at our post on what to do during a dental emergency.
What Kind Of Pain Do You Have?
Toothaches and oral pain come in many different forms. We’ve broken down common types of pain so that you can easily find what causes your toothaches. Hopefully we’ve made it easy for you to figure out what’s going on in you mouth!
Hot And Cold: Not Playing Well Together
Temperature sensitivity is a common complaint we hear from patients. For most of them it’s a simple issue but it can be serious. It all boils down to how long the pain lasts.
Temperature sensitivity lasting less than 30 seconds isn’t a major cause for concern. It can hurt, however, so you probably still want to get it check out. The likely cause of short bursts of pain in response to hot and cold is an aging filling, a minor cavity, or minor gum recession. Catching these problems now can prevent more severe symptoms, so make an appointment at your convenience.
Pain lasting more than 30 seconds is a bit more serious. If tea, soup, or ice cream sends you into a bout of pain we need to see you right away. Lingering temperature sensitivity indicates a serious cavity that has probably reached the root of your tooth. It could also be a sign that you have a “leaking filling” or a fractured tooth. All three are serious conditions, so call us right away!
Pressure, Bites, And Their Shocking Pains
Do you get an intense pain when you bite down? it could be indicative of a serious problem. Your teeth are meant to bend and flex – if they’re hurting when they do so there’s one of a few possibilities.
Intense pain when you bite is usually caused by serious decay or a fracture. You can’t afford to let this kind of pain stick around because it won’t go away – it will just get worse over time. Never hesitate to contact us when you experience sharp pain while biting food!
Discomfort when chewing can be a result of several problems: your teeth could be loosening due to gum disease, you may be feeling the effects of grinding your teeth, or you could have a small crack in a tooth. Make an appointment immediately so we can cure what ails you.
Pains Chronic And Acute
Fractures and tooth decay could be what causes your toothaches but it isn’t the only thing, just the most serious. You might be experiencing something else entirely. Many also commonly experience tooth decay and headaches together.
Chronic aching in your teeth is a sign that you’re suffering from bruxism, or grinding, gnashing, and clenching your jaw. Treatment for bruxism is simple but often overlooked. If you don’t address it you can end up with serious jaw pain, loosening teeth, and even eventual tooth loss.
Pain in your jaw joint, or TMJ, tells us that you’re probably developing temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. There are a number of solutions to this condition, all depending on what is causing it. With a thorough exam we can determine where the pain is coming from and how to fix it.
Intense pain with fever, swelling, and sensitivity is very serious – it usually means you have an abscess. These serious infections need to be treated immediately before they spread, damaging your jaw bone, teeth, gums, and even migrating elsewhere in your body. Abscesses can cause serious damage: call us right away if you experience any of the above symptoms!
Same Day Pain Relief: Available Now
As your family dentist near Joliet, we can find out whats causing your toothaches are goal is first and foremost to eliminate pain. We’ll get you feeling better and then work to solve your problem for good.
Never hesitate to make that first call: you can reach us today at 815-725-5991! For non-emergency needs you can request an appointment online. We’ll see you soon!
