Causes of Tooth Pain - Woodinville, WA

Let’s cut to the chase: tooth pain stinks. There are some pains that you can suffer through, but your life pretty much comes to a screeching halt when tooth pain enters the picture. You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t concentrate on anything… but the tooth pain.

While restorative dentistry offers many outstanding ways to repair teeth that have been damaged, when you have tooth pain, your primary goal is simply to eliminate the pain. At Signature Smiles, we offer a comprehensive range of treatments for the entire family, including treatments designed to alleviate tooth pain and restore optimal form, function, and health to teeth. We can provide you with the relief from pain that you are seeking and then plan out the longer-term treatment you need to achieve the healthy smile you deserve.

The important thing to realize is that you don’t have to - and certainly should not - live with tooth pain. The worst thing you can do is medicate yourself and wait for the pain to pass. We invite you to read about the most common causes of tooth pain provided by our Woodinville, WA dental team and then contact Signature Smiles to schedule your appointment today.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Tooth Pain?

The most common causes of tooth pain include:

• Structural damage to teeth: Enamel erosion, cavities, chips, and cracks can all cause pain. Sometimes, a tooth can become structurally damaged, and a person will not feel pain immediately. If this happens to you, don’t be deceived into thinking that you are in the clear. Sooner or later, you will feel pain. It’s better to seek treatment before that happens.
• Root canal infections: Many people believe that a “root canal” is a procedure when, in fact, it is an anatomical structure. Each of your teeth contains at least one root canal that houses a substance called dental pulp. If this dental pulp becomes infected, you will feel intense pain until it is removed or until the tooth dies. Obviously, it is far better to have it removed through root canal surgery, in which case the tooth can be salvaged and covered with a dental crown.
• Gum disease: Gum disease is the most common disease among American adults, affecting roughly 75 percent of the population. In its most advanced form, periodontitis, general mouth pain, including tooth pain, is common. The teeth can also become loose as gum pockets form, causing further pain.
• Bruxism: Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, can cause the teeth to become worn, leading to pain. It can also contribute to temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, dysfunction, which lists among its symptoms jaw, neck, head, shoulder, ear, and - yes - tooth pain.

If you are feeling tooth pain at this moment, you can try brushing and flossing your teeth. If this does not resolve your pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to manage your pain until your dental appointment. The important thing is that you must make a dental appointment.

Contact Signature Smiles to make your appointment at our office today.