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What causes tooth pain & gum pain?
Whether the toothache pain is minor or severe, you should always have a dentist diagnose its underlying cause as soon as possible. In most cases, a rigorous oral hygiene routine will prevent toothaches or discomfort. However, many potential factors can cause tooth or gum pain, including the following
Cavity/Tooth Decay
Though cavities often happen gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent an infection takes hold.
Grinding, Trauma or Injury
A broken or damaged tooth can be extremely painful, so don't ignore it, whether you grind your teeth while you sleep and gradually wear them down or you suffer an injury in a more direct way, like while playing sports. Your dentist might suggest a filling, a crown, or bonding as a course of treatment.
Grinding may also cause tooth sensitivity issues. Ask your dentist for tips on how to break this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
Because they put pressure on the teeth nearby or because of infection, impacted wisdom teeth frequently cause significant pain. If there isn't enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt properly, impacted wisdom teeth can also cause crowding and tooth damage.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections may lead to pockets filled with pus. This not only creates painful sensitivity, but can also develop into a more serious, or even life-threatening, condition.
Gum Disease
Early stages (gingivitis) of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can progress to moderate and severe stages. When gingivitis is still in its early stages, your dentist might recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing, which involves removing plaque accumulation from the gum line.
For a more urgent case that’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Potential Causes
We should note that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth may help. You should also attempt to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this may be cause for more serious concern, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
There are also times the issue that’s causing your tooth pain may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
However, it’s still worth it to schedule an appointment with your dentist as ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious issues. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.
What Helps Tooth Pain?
If you are wondering how to relieve tooth pain, the first and most obvious answer is to make an appointment with your dentist so that the issue can be diagnosed and treated.
You can try a few natural tooth pain relief methods in the interim. In order to lessen pain and inflammation, use an ice pack or an over-the-counter pain reliever. In some circumstances, rinsing with salt water can also aid in calming and relieving tooth pain.