20 Jul 2018 7 Causes of Toothaches and What To Do About Them
It’s mid-summer and most of our familiar routines have been thrown out the window. Many of us are doing things we don’t get to do at other times of the year—camping, hiking, swimming, and eating shave ice. All of these fun activities can be more dangerous for your teeth than sitting at a desk at work or in school. You may have a tooth that starts hurting. What causes toothaches? We often think of decay, but can there be other causes? When do you call the dentist? Below are some common causes of toothaches.
Causes of Toothaches
Braces! Even a small adjustment can make all of your teeth feel sore for a few days. If you lose a bracket, your teeth can feel sore. Examine your braces and if anything seems broken, your orthodontist can help you get to eliminate this source of pain.
Misaligned teeth. If your top and bottom teeth are misaligned, then as you eat food, your teeth can push each other even more out of place, making them sore. If this is happening to you, braces or a retainer may be necessary to help your teeth stay in the right place.
Impacted wisdom teeth. Did you get your wisdom teeth out as a teenager or young adult? Has your dentist X-rayed your mouth and commented on your wisdom teeth? Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that have not come through the gums because they may be actually lying in the gums sideways or at a strange angle. When this happens, they can push against the roots of other teeth, making them sore. As painful as surgery is, it is short lived. Having impacted wisdom teeth out may be healthier for your mouth than leaving them in. Learn what you need to know about wisdom teeth to see if yours need to be removed.
Damaged fillings. The older we get, sadly, the more fillings we collect. Most fillings are made with a white composite resin or plastic that only lasts 5-10 years. Old fillings can crack and fall apart, exposing a sensitive part of the tooth to temperature changes, bacteria, and food. This can hurt! Luckily, a dentist can easily repair a filling, quickly reducing this pain.
Fractured teeth. Teeth can crack easily by biting down on something hard or sticky, or by an injury. If you have a cracked tooth, call you dentist. If your tooth is sensitive or painful, you will want it to get looked at immediately.
Decay. It’s the most common cause of tooth pain. Once decay goes through a tooth’s enamel it hits the sensitive dentin layer. If decay goes to the root, it is considered an abscess and is extremely painful, usually requiring a root canal. See a dentist immediately if you suspect decay.
Have fun in the sun but if you have tooth pain that just won’t go away, contact the best dentist in Holladay and we’ll take care of everything. We’ll do all we can to help your pain just be a bad memory.