What Causes a Toothache and How Can You Avoid One?

Any kind of pain in our bodies can be distracting and irritating. It can be difficult to move through a day and perform daily responsibilities while dealing with a throbbing ache or burn. And yet, such pains are far too common among many Americans. 

A toothache is a common pain that can really drive you up the wall. It can be frustrating and deeply unpleasant. Toothaches could take the form of sharp or dull pain or they could be a sudden sensitivity in your teeth to temperature or touch.

Worst of all, toothaches can have serious repercussions when it comes to our health. If you’re worried about getting a toothache and want to avoid one at all costs, read on. We’ll walk you through some essential tips on avoiding such a situation. 

What Causes A Toothache? 

There is not just one sole cause of toothaches. Instead, multiple contributing factors might be creating the symptoms of pain one feels in their mouth. It’s important to understand what causes pain in the teeth if you hope to avoid developing a toothache. 

Exposed Dentin

Dentin is a sensitive tissue that lies underneath the enamel and cementum of a tooth. Enamel is the hard layer around your tooth that is supposed to protect it from the outside world. 

In some situations, the enamel might become worn away and dentin exposed. Extreme sensitivity can often be the result. This sensitivity might cause pain if you attempt to eat or drink cold or hot items. 

Dentin can become exposed as a result of cavities or worn down fillings in the mouth. Receding gums can also work to expose dentin and cause sensitivity issues. 

Gingivitis or Other Gum Diseases 

Gingivitis is the most common cause of toothaches and mouth pains.

Gingivitis is a gum disease that comes about as a result of bacteria in the mouth. Gums can become inflamed, hot and swollen as a result of the disease. This can feel quite painful. 

In more extreme cases, infected gums can begin to deteriorate. Gums can even become detached from teeth altogether. Tooth rots then become exposed to bacteria and become increasingly vulnerable to rot or decay themselves. 

Inflammation of Tooth Pulp 

Tooth decay sometimes extends deeper into a tooth and affects the tissue at the very center, where the blood and nerves rest. Inflammation to nerves, as you can imagine, can be very painful. 

This feeling can also be caused by physical trauma to a tooth. Being hit in the mouth in any way can damage the nerve endings within your teeth and cause pain for days. 

If one of your teeth has been cracked due to an accident. Athletes often crack teeth as a result of physical alterations. But many people often crack teeth trying to bite down on very hard objects or food items. This crack can cause damage to the tissue at the center of the tooth as well. 

Impacted Tooth

As you’re probably aware, our teeth don’t stay in one place our whole lives. They actually move and grow and change as the years go by. 

But sometimes, there are obstacles that stand in the way of a tooth moving to where it needs to go. Often, wisdom teeth crowd a person’s mouth and cause painful tension between teeth. Sometimes teeth remain stuck under the gum, unable to rise due to a lack of room in the mouth. 

These impacted teeth can cause quite serious pain or toothaches for the individual. 

How Best to Avoid Toothaches 

The only way to avoid toothaches is to ensure that you’re practicing proper oral health. Prevention can help ensure that your mouth and teeth feel and look great. 

This can sometimes mean very literal physical protection. If you’re playing contact sports or are putting yourself in dangerous physical scenarios, it’s best to wear a mouth guard. This can help prevent physical damage to your teeth and ensuing pain. 

An individual also needs to prevent against cavities, gingivitis, and other teeth-related issues by practicing good oral health. That means brushing gently twice daily and flossing at least once a day. You should replace your toothbrush with a new one every three months. 

It’s also advised that a person drink water with fluoride and see their dentist on a regular basis for check-ups and cleanings. This kind of preventive behavior should help poor mouth hygiene from developing. 

It can also be helpful to avoid bad habits such as smoking, which can easily damage or weaken teeth. It can also turn them yellow or cause other forms of discoloration.

Eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and proteins can help keep your body and teeth strong. Such a diet can help avoid the cavities and damage that a more sugar-fueled diet can bring on. 

Tooth pain can be caused by a variety of factors. In some cases, toothaches can be a symptom of very serious problems. If you’re currently experiencing pain in the mouth or teeth, it’s important to contact a health professional. If left untreated, such pains can develop into very serious diseases. 

Understanding How Toothaches Form

No one wants to experience the throbbing pain of a toothache. Such pain can be irritating and distracting in your day to day life. And if left untreated, such problems can become serious health threats. The above practices can help you to avoid such problems. 

Are you experiencing tooth pain currently? Give us a call for assistance as soon as possible.