Understanding and Dealing With a Chronic Toothache

A toothache can be one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences. It can affect your ability to sleep and eat and make even the simplest tasks seem like torture.

You can’t just ignore a toothache because it will only get worse. It may be tempting to try to tough it out and hope the pain goes away, but it’s best to see your dentist as soon as possible. A chronic toothache may indicate something much more severe than you think.

In this article, we will look at the causes and symptoms of toothache that will help you to understand it better and deal with the pain.

Why Is a Toothache So Painful?

The tooth is one of the most complex parts of your body, but it is also one of the most sensitive. The nerve endings in your teeth can sense pressure, temperature changes, and even minor vibrations. When something goes wrong with a tooth or its surrounding tissues, it can cause pain.

The pulp is a tissue within the center of the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When a tooth is damaged or infected, bacteria can enter this soft tissue and cause an infection.

When you have an infection in your mouth, it can lead to swelling or inflammation of the gums around your teeth. This is because your body is trying to fight the disease and protect itself. The inflammation can make it difficult for your mouth to heal properly, leading to pain.

What are the Common Causes of Toothache?

Chronic toothache is a condition with constant, dull, or throbbing pain in the teeth. The pain may be mild or severe and can be felt all day or only at night when you are trying to sleep.

The causes of chronic toothache vary depending on the person, but they often include the following:

Tooth Decay: Tooth decay is the most common cause of toothache. If you have cavities or cracks in your teeth, bacteria can get inside and start to grow on the surface of your teeth. This infection causes the pain that you feel when eating or drinking certain foods or beverages.

Dental Infection: A dental infection can cause toothache if you have an abscess around the tooth or gum area. An abscess is a pus-filled cavity that forms after an infection has spread into your jawbone or gums. This often happens when bacteria from your mouth get into a small opening in the bone and starts to grow.

Gum Disease: Gum can cause toothache if you have periodontal pockets around your teeth. Your gums are supposed to hold the teeth firmly in place, but when they become inflamed or infected, they loosen their grip. If this happens, the bone below your gums can be exposed, which causes pain.

Incorrect Bite: Having an incorrect bite can cause toothache. If you have teeth that are poorly aligned, the chewing forces on your jaw will be uneven. This can cause pain and pressure, which leads to toothache.

Conclusion

It is important to see your dentist as soon as you start experiencing a toothache. If the pain goes on for long periods, it may cause damage to your teeth and other parts of your mouth. If left untreated, a toothache can lead to infections that can spread throughout your body and cause more severe health problems than just a painful mouth.

Get the pain checked out by your dentist in Waterford, MI as soon as possible. Dental House MI will provide you with the high-quality care you deserve and will work with you to find a treatment plan that meets your needs.