Decay Isn’t Always The Cause Of A Painful Toothache

A look at some other common, and not so common, causes of this uncomfortable problem

When patients come to our Swadlincote dental practice with a toothache, they often assume that it has been caused by tooth decay. While this is one of the most common reasons for a toothache, it is not the only one, and further investigation often reveals other problems which need treating instead.

Alexandra Dental Care has a modern, well-equipped clinic, with both X-rays and scans available to help us accurately diagnose, and subsequently treat, any issues that you have. In today’s blog, we will take a look at some reasons, other than tooth decay, that might be causing you to experience discomfort or pain in your teeth.

Tooth sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity tends to occur sporadically, rather than being the persistent discomfort so often associated with a toothache. This is most likely to occur when you eat or drink very hot or cold foods and drinks. It will most likely come in the form of a sharp sensation that will make you wince when it happens. It mostly occurs when the enamel on your teeth becomes eroded, often from consuming too many acidic drinks. Whilst it can sometimes be eased by using a ‘sensitive teeth toothpaste’, a more permanent solution is to have porcelain veneers fitted to protect the affected teeth.

Root canal infections

These are often very painful indeed and whilst they can be caused by decay, they can also be caused by bacteria entering the root canals due to a tooth being cracked and exposing the porous dentin part of the tooth. This problem can only be treated properly with a root canal procedure.

Abscesses

Abscesses tend to occur when bacteria finds its way beneath the gum. This can advance and form a pocket of pus. If this bursts, it will leave a nasty taste in your mouth and may also be very painful. Simply bursting an abscess won’t resolve the problem though and can even potentially cause further infection. We can X-ray your mouth to check if you have any abscesses, and indeed, we routinely do this prior to a root canal procedure. If detected, they can then be treated before the root cause of the problem is tackled.

Loose fillings

Fillings can work loose, and amalgam fillings will shrink over time, sometimes coming away from the rest of the tooth. This in turn leaves small gaps around the edges where bacteria can enter. This can lead to further tooth decay. You may not notice this yourself and is yet another reason for our Burton and Ashby dental patients to make sure that they have a check up appointment booked with us every six months or so. This issue is less likely to occur if you have tooth coloured fillings as these bond well to the tooth and are much less likely to come away from it and are also not susceptible to shrinkage.

Fractured tooth

A tooth can fracture when you bite down hard on something. It is usually quite obvious when this happens and you should seek your dentist’s advice as soon as possible. This is more likely to occur when a tooth has been weakened, so, again, regular dental check ups and good home care are essential in order to keep your teeth as strong and healthy as possible.

Sinus infections

Sometimes, a patient will come to us worried about pain in the rear upper teeth. This can be caused by tooth decay, and problems in this area are common due to the grinding role these teeth play, and the fact that it is harder to keep the rear teeth clean. Sometimes though, it can be caused by an infection of the sinus cavity which is situated directly above these teeth. If you have recently had a cold or similar and notice discomfort in that area, this could be the reason why. If the pain is severe or doesn’t subside though, please do contact your dentist as soon as you can to have it checked out.

Any dental pain or discomfort should not be ignored and will nearly always indicate that there is a problem that needs treating. Ignoring this pain and hoping it will go away is very unlikely to succeed and will almost certainly eventually make things worse. Instead, for example, of needing a small filling where tooth decay has occurred, you may end up needing a larger filling, a crown or even needing to have the tooth extracted if you allow the problem to advance too far.

If you have any concerns about the health of your teeth or gums, do make sure that you book an appointment with us as soon as you can so that we can investigate. Make sure too, to check if you have a check up scheduled, and if you don’t, please call Alexandra Dental Care today on 01283 216347 so that we can organise one for you at a mutually convenient time.

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