A toothache once in a while is a common occurrence. But it should not be ignored as, in some cases, it might indicate a severe underlying issue. If you have been avoiding regular dental checkups, you should consider visiting a dentist in Fullerton, CA, to prevent any problems.
If you have these concerns due to tooth pain, there are high chances that your toothache is not minor and has a severe cause.
- Extreme pain and discomfort
- It lasts more than 24 hours.
- In addition to your toothache, you may experience ear pain, fever, or other types of mouth pain.
Your dentist may ask questions about the pain’s severity, location, and starting time. They will examine the toothache with X-rays and try to detect the trigger behind it.
Causes of toothaches
Several reasons contribute to the pain in your teeth. The ache can be long-lasting or momentary. It indicates severe untreated problems that may be the cause of the discomfort suffered by the patient. Timely examination and treatment are critical for avoiding further complications.
Some commonly observed causes of toothaches include:
- Cavities
Cavities are one of the most prominent reasons for toothaches. They occur when there is a decay in the enamel or dentin layer of your teeth. This results in severe damage to the tooth, resulting in toothaches.
- Damaged fillings
If you have had restorative procedures on your teeth, like the placement of fillings, a toothache is possible from their damage over time. They get broken or start to crack after a certain period.
- Abscessed teeth.
Abscessed teeth are extremely painful and harmful. It takes place when there is an infection inside of your teeth, and it starts to spread to other parts of your body.
- Cracked teeth
Fractures in the teeth or chipped/cracked teeth are common causes of tooth pain. Your teeth can get fractured by chewing something hard, which also happens due to aging.
- Bruxism, or clenching of teeth.
Stress and other factors cause consistent grinding or clenching of teeth, damaging them. The enamel part gets eroded due to the pressure, which leads to increased chances of cavities and fractured teeth.
- Gingivitis
Gingivitis can also feel like an ache in the teeth. But in reality, it impacts the surrounding tissue and bone around the teeth instead. Gingivitis is a serious issue that can also cause the loss of teeth as it breaks down the surrounding tissues near it.
