For some, there is nothing worse that dental pain. There is something to say about the isolated pain that happens when you have tooth pain, as it seems impossible to talk, smile, eat, and/or drink. Luckily, tooth pain doesn’t always come out of nowhere, as there are some common habits you may be doing that can cause or exacerbate the pain.
To ensure you don’t have a serious problem and end up in a facility such as a Milwaukie medical clinic , take note of these common causes of dental pain.
Sensitivity to extreme temperature
Have you been experiencing severe tooth pain when you have eaten or drank something that was really hot or very cold? While it can be normal for you to experience some slight sensitivity to an extreme temperature once in a while, if you have consistent and constant pain, this can signify a bigger issue. You can be suffering from a small area of tooth decay, an exposed tooth root, or even a loose filling. Take notice of what you are eating and how your teeth feel, and if you are noticing pain happening more and more, head to your dentist as soon as possible.
You work out quite often
Interestingly enough, working out can be great for the rest of your body but not your teeth. In fact, a Scandanvian study found that those who exercised often and did high impact sports such as triathlon had more cavities than those who were sedentary. Some dentists believe that this is the case because the lack of saliva in the mouth when exercising can lead to tooth erosion.
Pain after eating
While it is normal to experience some pain in your mouth after eating tougher foods such as bagels, apples, and even chewing gum, a consistent, lingering pain after eating can be a sure sign your tooth is infected. Even more so, if you notice a dull ache on the top of your mouth, take a look at how your sinuses feel and have been feeling. Your top back teeth share the same nerves as your sinuses, and can cause pain around your head that can mean there is a big problem lurking in your gums.
Your filling is loose or fell out
Fillings are meant to be permanent, but if a lot of force is applied to them, or the material breaks down, then the filling may wear away and fall out. A loose or lost filling can expose a very sensitive part of your tooth, as it originally was placed there to protect against further decay. Since fillings can be very small, you may not know they are gone until you bite down and feel a gap, or if you feel sharp, throbbing pain, and temperature sensitivity. As soon as you notice these symptoms, head to your dentist, like those at Restorative Dental Care to get it fixed as soon as possible.
You have an abcess on your gums
It is common for food to get wedged up into your gums when chewing, and if you forget to floss once or twice, this small particle of food can cause you plenty of problems. The food can easily be pushed up into your gums, which causes inflammation and pain and can lead to a further infection if you aren’t careful. So the minute you notice any gum pain, head to the dentist right away to get it sorted out.
If you are noticing any of these symptoms, you may have a dental problem on your hands. So don’t risk the beauty of your smile and get to a dentist as soon as possible!
