Tooth pain is no joke. It keeps you from sleeping. It prevents you from focusing at work. And it just makes you downright miserable. If you are experiencing tooth pain, your Omaha dentist can help. But first, let’s discuss the reasons you might be experiencing tooth pain in the first place.

Common Culprits For Your Tooth Pain

We know how frustrating it can be to experience tooth pain. And though there are some things you can do right now to help your toothache, it might help to understand what is causing it.

1. Sensitive Teeth

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, it is likely the result of tooth enamel that has been worn down, or it could be exposed tooth roots. Your dentist in West Omaha might recommend using toothpaste for sensitive teeth but will first check for a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease at your next dental appointment.

2. Cavities

A cavity is a hole in your tooth that develops from tooth decay. When your dentin becomes softer than your tooth enamel, it speeds up the decay process. When you don’t receive treatment from your dentist, bacteria can enter the pulp where those nerves and blood vessels are situated. The result is a toothache that can be quite painful.

3. Dental Abscess

An abscess is a severe infection caused by pus collected inside the teeth, gums, or jawbone holding your teeth in place. The pus results from a bacterial infection and will not go away. Most dentists consider an abscess a dental emergency that should be treated immediately.

4. Bruxism

This condition is caused by clenching and teeth grinding, which typically occurs when the patient sleeps. Often due to stress, patients with bruxism are advised to try meditation or practice self-care more frequently. And, since bruxism can wear away the dental enamel that protects your teeth, a mouthguard is recommended at night to prevent clenching and grinding.

5. TMJ

TMJ refers to your temporomandibular joint, one of your body’s most complex joints. The TMJ allows your mandible to move from side to side, forward and back, and up and down. When your mandible and joints are correctly aligned, you can chew, speak, yawn, and swallow without issue. But when things get out of alignment, it can cause jaw and tooth pain. This happens because your TMJ can irritate trigger points in your mouth when your muscles contract and become stiff. As a result, you may experience a toothache. If you are experiencing jaw pain that doesn’t seem to subside, talk to your dentist to determine the best TMJ treatment plan.

6. Wisdom Teeth

Your wisdom teeth are those extra teeth, your third molars, in the back of your mouth. These teeth often make themselves known in your late teens or early twenties. In most cases, your dentist will recommend wisdom tooth removal since there is very little room in the back of your mouth for these teeth to remain comfortable. So, if you are in the aforementioned aged group, and you’re experiencing persistent teeth in the back of your mouth, you may be experiencing wisdom tooth pain.

7. Chips or Cracks from Sports Injuries

Despite our best efforts, accidents happen. And if you are active in sports, you are more prone to facial injuries than others. You may have experienced a soccer ball or football in the face. It could be a trip and fall while running down the field. Whatever caused your injury, tooth chips and cracks can be pretty painful because they expose the nerves and blood vessels in the inner soft tissues of your teeth (the pulp). Your dentist may suggest a filling or crown to protect the damaged tooth and may also recommend wearing a sports mouthguard when at play.

8. Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Though gum disease, regardless of how advanced it has become, doesn’t generally cause tooth pain, we don’t want to rule it out. Sore gums can often be mistaken for tooth pain, especially when left untreated for some time. You may have gum disease if your gums are swollen, red in color, or bleed when you brush or floss. The earliest stages of gum disease are reversible, so be sure to let your dentist know if you are experiencing one of the related symptoms.

A visit to your Omaha dentist every six months is the best way to prevent tooth pain.

Tooth pain is something to avoid messing around with. And the good news is that it can be treated, if not prevented altogether, by visits to your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and oral examination. Only your dentist can remove tartar that has hardened due to plaque on your teeth. When tartar is not removed, it can cause tooth decay and contribute to gum disease.

So, if you are experiencing tooth pain or are overdue for your visit to the dentist, there is no time like the present to request an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon.