Seeing The Dentist: What Causes a Toothache?
As most people know, a toothache can hurt worse than almost any other minor ailment. Because there is such a strong concentration of nerves in the mouth, even a small irritation can cause blinding, eye-watering pain. Seeing a dentist when you experience this kind of pain is a must. If you can't get to one right away, however, you can use a variety of home remedies and over the counter medicines to ease your immediate pain. Fair warning, however: the longer you let tooth pain go untreated, the worse the damage will be when you finally make it in to an appointment. Here are some of the reasons we experience toothaches.
The most common cause of a toothache, any dentist will tell you, is a cavity. While this may sound encouraging to someone who hasn't experienced any tooth pain, take heed: a cavity can form long before any pain develops. This is only one reason why seeing a dental professional on a regular basis is so important. If you are experiencing a toothache, however, a cavity is the most likely culprit. A cavity is basically a hole in the tooth. It is typically caused by bacteria in the mouth, which is responsible for converting sugar into acid. This acid then eats away at the enamel, and then the dentin, creating the pain that you are experiencing. As long as they are caught early, a simple filling should be enough to take care of the problem. If left untreated, it could lead to serious infection which can only be treated with a root canal or extraction.
Gum disease is another widespread cause of toothache and mouth pain. Plaque forms along the gum line in people with poor oral hygiene, smokers, diabetes, or simply a genetic predisposition to the condition of gum disease. Your dentist would likely recommend regular cleaning appointments, regular use of brushing and flossing, and the avoidance of sugary foods and drinks as the best protection against gum disease. Flossing, in particular, should be highlighted here, as nothing else can get those difficult to reach food particles with quite the same efficiency.
Gum disease and cavities are the most common causes of tooth pain, but they are far from the only ones. Exposed roots, infections, tooth fracture, and TMJ can all cause certain degrees of pain in the mouth area. The only way to nail down the exact cause is to make an appointment with a dentist and find out first hand what is causing the pain. Many people fear making that appointment, but the longer you wait, the worse off you'll be. Make the appointment as soon as possible and stop a minor issue of tooth pain from growing into something much worse. If you can get it under control now, you can save yourself a great deal of pain and frustration in the future.
The most common cause of a toothache, any dentist will tell you, is a cavity. While this may sound encouraging to someone who hasn't experienced any tooth pain, take heed: a cavity can form long before any pain develops. This is only one reason why seeing a dental professional on a regular basis is so important. If you are experiencing a toothache, however, a cavity is the most likely culprit. A cavity is basically a hole in the tooth. It is typically caused by bacteria in the mouth, which is responsible for converting sugar into acid. This acid then eats away at the enamel, and then the dentin, creating the pain that you are experiencing. As long as they are caught early, a simple filling should be enough to take care of the problem. If left untreated, it could lead to serious infection which can only be treated with a root canal or extraction.
Gum disease is another widespread cause of toothache and mouth pain. Plaque forms along the gum line in people with poor oral hygiene, smokers, diabetes, or simply a genetic predisposition to the condition of gum disease. Your dentist would likely recommend regular cleaning appointments, regular use of brushing and flossing, and the avoidance of sugary foods and drinks as the best protection against gum disease. Flossing, in particular, should be highlighted here, as nothing else can get those difficult to reach food particles with quite the same efficiency.
Gum disease and cavities are the most common causes of tooth pain, but they are far from the only ones. Exposed roots, infections, tooth fracture, and TMJ can all cause certain degrees of pain in the mouth area. The only way to nail down the exact cause is to make an appointment with a dentist and find out first hand what is causing the pain. Many people fear making that appointment, but the longer you wait, the worse off you'll be. Make the appointment as soon as possible and stop a minor issue of tooth pain from growing into something much worse. If you can get it under control now, you can save yourself a great deal of pain and frustration in the future.
