When you have a toothache, there are several reasons why this problem can occur. You should visit a dentist as soon as possible to have an examination with medical images to determine what is causing your pain. Here are some of the reasons for having a toothache along with the treatments for the problem.
If you haven’t been diligent about brushing and flossing your teeth, then you can develop decay in the dental enamel. Cavities can develop on any surface of a tooth, leading to pain when the decay reaches the sensitive pulp. Your dentist will clean the tooth that has the cavity, making sure to remove the damaged enamel and washing away any bacteria. The dentist will mix a color-matching substance to fill the cavity, protecting the tooth from additional damage.
When you have gum disease, it can lead to a toothache. The signs of gingivitis include bleeding or swollen gums. You may notice that it hurts to chew food or to brush your teeth. In some cases, you might have an abscess on the gums, or the infection from gum disease might invade deeper tissues, causing pain in the roots of a tooth. Your dentist will prescribe oral antibiotics to destroy the bacteria in your mouth, and you will also need extensive treatment to remove any infection in the gum tissue.
Broken teeth often occur during an accident, and this will cause pain in your mouth. Fortunately, a dentist can make customized dental crowns to cover the damaged teeth. This will alleviate the pain in your mouth while you drink beverages, chew food and talk. It is easy to take care of these restorations with daily brushing and flossing so that the other teeth and your gum tissues remain healthy.
If your teeth hurt when you wake up, then you may grind your teeth while sleeping. There are various reasons why you might do this, but it is important to protect your teeth to avoid additional damage and pain. Your dentist can make plastic splints for you to place over your teeth before you go to bed, protecting your teeth along with preventing pain in the morning.
When you have a sinus infection, the inflammation in the sinus cavity can cause pain in the roots of your teeth. By taking decongestant medications, you can reduce the inflammation in the sinus cavity. You can also place warm washcloths on your forehead to reduce your discomfort. Another way to find relief from pain is by using a vaporizer that emits a warm mist of moisture into your home.
Last, if you can see the roots of your teeth, then you have receding gum tissue. A dentist can perform gum surgery to cover the roots of the teeth so that you won’t have additional pain.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.