Ouch! What Sudden Tooth Pain Might Mean
Posted on 7/1/2024 by Greenway Family Dental |
 You may occasionally experience mouth pain, which can result from canker sores, a bitten cheek, or even brushing or flossing too hard. None of these issues necessitate an immediate visit to our dentist. However, if you experience tooth pain suddenly and have not experienced pain in this area before, it may necessitate a visit to our dentist. Here are some problems that can cause sudden tooth pain.
Most Common Causes of Sudden Tooth Pain
Sudden tooth pain can be extremely painful, so it is important to identify where the pain is coming from. That way, we can schedule an appointment for you with our dentist to have your tooth looked at.
Cavities
One of the most common reasons you may have sudden tooth pain is tooth decay. Bacteria cause tooth decay because the acid by-products of bacterial growth bore holes into your tooth enamel. At first, cavities do not cause pain because there are no nerves in your tooth enamel. However, once the cavity passes through the enamel and into the next tooth layer, called the dentin, your tooth may become more sensitive.
Once the cavity reaches the middle of your tooth, called the tooth pulp, it has reached the area where your nerves, blood vessels, and tooth roots are. Because the tooth nerves are located in the tooth pulp, a cavity that has reached this area can become extremely painful quite quickly. If you have been dealing with tooth pain for a while, it is possible that the infection has created an abscess in your tooth. Usually, if you have an abscessed tooth, you may notice a fever, jaw pain, and a swollen area around the sore tooth.
Fractures
Another common reason you may experience tooth pain is a fractured tooth that may expose a tooth nerve. Fractures sound like something that would happen due to mouth trauma, but often, tooth fractures happen to adults in midlife who merely bite down on something hard, such as trail mix. If you have fractured a tooth, you may notice pain, specifically when you bite down on something.
Not sure why you are having tooth pain? It is time to visit our dentist. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment.
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