What Are The Possible Causes of Tooth Nerve Pain?

dental patient

Tooth nerve pain only happens when the nerve of the tooth gets exposed. The tooth pain often comes with sensitivity and discomfort. It could come with a sudden dull ache and sharp pain that is very hard to disregard. Usually, the major causes are tooth decay and gum disease. These dental conditions will require you to see a dentist immediately for a root canal treatment. By the way, if you are looking for a reliable dental provider to take care of your needs, Grange Dental Care is a trusted clinic that specializes in root canal procedures and other services. Nevertheless, when tooth nerve pain strikes, your oral hygiene is most likely in need of some changes.

How Tooth Nerve Pain Happens

Indeed, toothaches can take away the joy of eating your favorite meals. Sometimes, teeth sensitivity is a significant indication of severe dental health problems. Nerve pain in the tooth could happen due to cracked tooth, poor oral health, damaged tooth, and exposed nerve endings. Tooth pain may also occur due to infection, inflammation, and tooth loss. Pain is also a common effect after tooth extraction.

woman with tooth pain

So how does it happen? To understand how things go down, let us first about our teeth, nerves, and everything surrounding our teeth. The tooth enamel is the outermost layer of the teeth above the gumline. On the other hand, cementum is what protects the teeth from underneath. Both of them are supposed to protect the teeth. Dentin is a mineral filled with tubules that connect to the pulp of the nerve. When your dentin is exposed, the nerves experience sensitivity, and nerve pain occurs. The sensitivity is usually triggered by:

  • cold and hot food and drinks
  • sugary and acidic foods and beverages

Reasons for Tooth Pain

You may have sensitive teeth due to several reasons. The causes of tooth pain and sensitivity include:

  • gum disease
  • tooth decay (cavities)
  • worn down enamel
  • exposed tooth root
  • grinding
  • worn filling, crown, and other dental prosthesis

    Let’s discuss all the possible reasons why you experience painful tooth discomfort.

Sensitive Teeth

The outer layer of the enamel protects healthy teeth. You can take care of the health of your teeth by practicing proper oral care and regular dental visits. However, as we age, the enamel on our teeth gradually wears away. Because of this, your tooth may get exposed to triggers that cause sensitivity.

You may also feel sensitivity when your gums start to move away from your teeth, and this causes the roots to get exposed. If this is the case, it would be wiser to seek immediate treatment as infection, and other dental problems might arise.

New filling may also cause tooth sensitivity. But it should go away on its own after a few weeks.

Damaged Tooth

Often, bacteria attack your teeth and gums each time you eat. They stay attached to different parts of your mouth until you brush them away. It produces acid, which is the top reason for a tooth cavity.

Moreover, tooth nerve pain occurs when your tooth is damaged. A simple crack can expose the nerves inside the tooth and cause discomfort. What’s worse is when a crack and cavity are combined, you could be under severe pain. If left neglected, the bacteria could penetrate the inner layers of the tooth, called the pulp. When the pulp gets infected, toothache may occur, followed by a dental abscess.

Bruxism

Bruxism or teeth grinding is usually due to stress, bite issues, and sleep disorders. People who grind their teeth during sleep may experience severe pain in the morning. In some cases, cold and hot sensitivity also occurs. Signs and symptoms include headaches, facial pain, and jaw joint pain.

Wisdom Teeth

Toothache is one of the many symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth. Some people don’t have any problem when their wisdom tooth erupts, but others feel jaw pain during the process. You may have your wisdom tooth removed if it’s causing you too much discomfort.

What to Do

tooth nerve pain consultation

It’s not easy to ignore the signs and symptoms if your tooth nerve pain is causing you to perform poorly. You must seek medical treatment to ensure that the health of your teeth is not compromised. If the pain is starting to get unbearable, it’s time to visit your dentist.

Aside from severe nerve pain, you must call your dentist if:

  • you do not find relief in over-the-counter pain medications
  • putting ice on the affected area isn’t helpful anymore
  • you don’t enjoy drinking cold and hot drinks at all
  • blood starts to show in your gumline
  • you feel pain in your jaw
  • the foods you eat seem to have a bad taste
  • you feel like your oral health is compromised
  • tooth discharge starts to occur

In addition, you must opt for a proper diagnosis if the signs and symptoms are accompanied by:

  • chills and high fever
  • facial injury
  • face rash
  • jaw pain with chest pain
  • difficulty biting, chewing, or swallowing

If you are unsure about how the procedure happens, you should take a look at www.synergydentalgroup.com.au or any nearby dental services that offer high-quality procedures that can appropriately address your issues. During the examination, your dentist will check the overall health of your mouth. He will most likely conduct X-rays and oral exams. After the diagnosis, the treatment options will be discussed with you. If the inside of your tooth needs to be cleaned, the root canals will be treated.

But is it possible to prevent tooth nerve pain? Yes indeed. You have to practice proper oral hygiene, avoid drinks and foods high in acid and sugar, and lead a healthy lifestyle. Also, don’t forget to visit your dentist every six months for a routine dental checkup.

References:

An Overview of Toothaches (https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/toothache)

Tooth Nerve Pain: Triggers & Treatment (https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/nutrition-and-oral-health/tooth-nerve-pain-triggers-and-treatment)