According to the CDC, more than 40% of adults experience some kind of oral pain every year. Toothaches often aren’t just painful—they can also lead to other oral health issues, including swelling in the face and gums, a bad taste in the mouth, sickness, migraines, infections, and bad breath.
Causes of Tooth Pain
There are plenty of things that can cause tooth pain, from having food stuck in the gums to the increased risk of gum disease while pregnant. However, the first step to treatment is to identify the cause.
Jaw Clenching or Teeth Grinding
Over-tightening the jaw muscles and grinding the teeth are two common causes of tooth pain. Many adults do one or both of these things when trying to focus, during stressful situations, or when experiencing tense emotions. Others do it unconsciously throughout the night as they sleep.
Over time, both jaw clenching and teeth grinding can cause toothaches, damage your teeth, or cause conditions like TMJ. Brushing too hard can also have the same effects.
Intense Exercise
While working out, many athletes breathe through their mouths. This can lead to dry mouth and reduce saliva flow in the mouth, creating a better environment for bacteria to thrive. In addition, pre- and post-workout or drinks often contain a lot of sugar. These, combined with the above, can cause tooth pain that could lead to dental erosion, plaque, and cavities.
Oral Cancer or Nerve Damage
Chronic mouth and tooth pain is the main symptom of oral cancer or mouth cancer. Oral cancer is fairly common and can be caused by heavy tobacco or alcohol use or human papillomavirus (HPV).
Although much rarer, some tooth pain may be caused by trigeminal neuralgia, a specific type of nerve damage that causes pain in the head and feels similar to a toothache. It may be painful at random or when you’re putting pressure on the teeth, jaw, or gums, like when eating, drinking, flossing, or brushing.
TMJ or TMD
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, refers to the joints on both sides of your face that connect your jaw to your skull. TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder and refers to any dysfunction of the TMJ, but most people use the acronyms interchangeably.
The main symptom of TMD is pain in the teeth or jaw, especially when chewing or yawning. It’s often caused by injury, arthritis, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, or major stress.
Abscessed Tooth or Infection
A tooth infection may be caused by a buildup of bacteria. A deep cavity can cause an infection, leading to an abscess, which is drainage from the infected tooth. These infections create a lot of inflammation in the mouth, leading to intense tooth pain.
See Family Dental Center of Blair for Tooth Pain
Regardless of what’s causing your tooth pain, it’s important to know when to see a dentist. Consider making an appointment if:
The toothache lasts longer than two days
The toothache is accompanied by a fever or earache
Your mouth or face is swelling
You have pain when opening your mouth wide
Your tooth pain is severe and sudden
Some toothaches are temporary and will resolve themselves, but others may require surgery or tooth extraction. You may even need to replace a cavity filling or crown.
Contact the Family Dental Center of Blair, and our experts will help you develop a diagnosis and treatment plan to ease your tooth pain.
