Leading Causes of Tooth Pain

There’s nothing worse than a toothache. Tooth pain doesn’t just distract you from the activities of your busy life; it actively makes getting anything done a major challenge. In fact, tooth pain is considered one of the worst pains you can experience right alongside childbirth and femoral fracture! That’s why dentists dedicate themselves to relieving the leading causes of tooth pain and preventing them altogether.

There are three main causes of tooth pain. We call these the three D’s of toothaches. They are deep decay, damage, and disease. Each of these can cause serious discomfort due to different reasons.

  • Deep Decay: Tooth decay remains the most common reason for a toothache. Deep decay that reaches down to the root canal causes immense pain that should be treated right away. When you have a cavity, a tiny hole penetrates the enamel and dentin, causing sensitivities and pain as the decay eventually reaches the nerve. In these cases, tooth decay causes abscesses that infect the nerve and pulp inside the tooth, causing severe tooth pain.
  • Damage: A chip or fracture can cause severe tooth pain, especially the more serious the damage. Similarly, a damaged or broken filling, crown, or dental implant can cause tooth pain.
  • Disease: Gum infections, such as gingivitis, commonly contribute to tooth pain. Of course, other oral diseases can also cause toothaches. In fact, serious conditions like oral cancer can contribute to tooth pain.

 

Other Reasons You May Be Experiencing Tooth Pain

Of course, not all tooth pain results from decay, damage, and disease. Other factors that have nothing to do with the three D’s could be causing your toothache. Other medical conditions and diseases outside the mouth can cause tooth pain, including sinus infections, viruses, cluster headaches, and diabetes. In fact, heart attacks can even present as severe tooth pain in the lower jaw. Other issues can also contribute to tooth pain, such as methamphetamine abuse and vitamin deficiency.

Still, tooth pain almost always has an oral or dental cause, which is why you should see a dentist right away for severe tooth pain. Mild tooth pain or sensitivity that lasts over multiple days also merits a trip to the dentist. The leading causes of tooth pain generally are not so serious if attended to quickly, but ignoring the problem makes the situation much worse. If you are experiencing tooth pain, come see us at Kantor Dental right away to see how we can help your mouth feel better.