Many patients come to our Marietta dental office complaining of tooth pain. Dr. Michael Mulkey and our team are very familiar with all types of tooth pain, and offer a wide range of services to treat tooth pain and discomfort.
Common Causes of Tooth Pain
Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth can cause extreme tooth pain, especially when eating hot or cold foods/drinks. For intermittent tooth sensitivity, your dentist may suggest a special tooth paste for sensitive teeth to minimize or eliminate tooth pain symptoms.
Persistent tooth sensitivity that causes moderate or severe tooth pain can be a sign of tooth grinding, tooth decay or other dental problem. Your dentist will examine the tooth and create a personalized treatment plan. For tooth decay, a root canal may be necessary. If you are grinding your teeth, the dentist may make a special mouthguard that you wear at night to stop teeth from grinding.
Tooth Cavities
A tooth cavity can cause tooth pain when decay or infection reaches the tooth pulp. A root canal is the most common type of treatment for a cavity that is causing toothache. The dentist will remove the inflamed or diseased tooth pulp and seal the tooth with a dental crown.
If the pain is severe and causing swelling or fever, you may have an abscessed tooth. This is a serious condition that causes infection of the tooth pulp as well as surrounding gum and possibly bone. If you are experiencing this type of tooth pain, contact our Marietta dental office for an appointment with one of our dentists.
Jaw Pain
If your tooth pain is concentrated in the jaw or face, you may have a TMJ disorder. Tooth pain can be a result of pressure in the jaw joints and/or pressure from grinding or clenching teeth.
Pain When Chewing
If you experience tooth pain when you chew or bite, you could have a cracked tooth, broken crown, or loose filling. Another cause may be a tooth cavity. Your dentist will examine your condition and create a personalized treatment plan
Damaged or Lost Filling
Sometimes a filling can fall out or be damaged, exposing the cavity again and leading to pain. A visit to your dentist can determine if this is the case and how to best treat it.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscess forms in your gums when there is an infection at the tooth’s roots. Abscesses are extremely painful and only a dentist will treat it. Antibiotics can be administered which should clear up the infection although other procedures may be necessary to prevent a recurrence. Failure to treat an abscess can lead to a widespread infection that could threaten your health or even your life.
Wisdom Teeth
When your wisdom teeth begin to erupt, it can be very painful and include swelling, and stiffness of the jaw. If wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to grow in, they can bump up against other molars causing pain and infections. This condition is called impaction. Dr. Mulkey will be able to determine if the wisdom teeth are coming in properly or if they should be removed.
Injuries
Injuries caused by such things as contact sports or an accident can create any number of problems including a “bruised” or deeply discolored tooth, a broken tooth, or loss of one or more teeth.
Orthodontic Treatment
Having braces adjusted can be painful. This is perfectly normal. Using an over-the-counter pain medicine, or if the issue is caused by the hardware itself, a little ball of dental wax, both sold at your local drugstore, should help.
Teeth Whitening
Most patients will experience some discomfort after a professional teeth-whitening treatment, but the pain should go away within a day or so. Talk to Dr. Mulkey if it becomes too painful or problematic.
Tooth Pain FAQs
What do I do if my tooth pain is unbearable?
The best way to stop tooth pain is icing, applying a cold compress, or taking an OTC medicine. Patients may also rinse with a warm saltwater solution to soothe pain.
How long will toothache last?
Toothaches can last anywhere from a couple hours to a week. If you treat it quickly, pain may be relieved faster. OTC painkillers can help relieve toothache pain while recovering.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
If you are suffering from tooth pain the best way to sleep is elevated, with your head up on a pillow. This encourages blood flow and alleviates pain.
Why is my toothache worse at night?
Patients may experience worse tooth pain at night. This is due to sleeping position. Laying flat on your back causes more blood flow to your head, which may increase tooth sensitivity, increasing your tooth pain. This is most commonly described as a throbbing pain, but it can be relieved through elevation.
What is the best thing to do to alleviate tooth pain?
We recommend an OTC pain medication to patients who are struggling with tooth pain. Holding a cold compress to the area and salt water rinses have also been shown to alleviate pain.
Can cavity tooth pains disappear?
Cavity pains may come and go, or be constant. Certain activities may trigger cavity pain such as smoking or chewing with an infected tooth. Call us today if you think you may have a cavity and we can schedule an appointment to treat it!
Does milk help a toothache?
Cheese, yogurt, and milk encourage the body to generate more saliva, which helps to keep your teeth healthy. These products are also high in calcium and protein, which help strengthen your teeth and may relieve toothache pain.
Will brushing my teeth make my toothache worse?
Brushing the tooth that is hurting is important because your toothache can be from trapped food or bacteria. However it is not a solution to all toothaches.
Schedule a Dental Exam with our Dentists in Marietta, GA Today
No matter what the reason, we know that living with tooth pain can be a miserable experience. Schedule an appointment with Lost Mountain Dental online today, or call 770-425-4001 to schedule. We will do our best to identify the underlying problem and help you find fast relief.