46064 Dentist Shares Common Causes of a Toothache

Toothaches are a very unique kind of pain. Few other types of bodily ailments can compare to the sensation of a painful tooth. Teeth are highly complex body parts that, despite appearances, are very much alive and able to feel and process pain. As such, there are many different reasons why teeth can hurt, some of which are common and relatively benign, some of which are serious. If you are experiencing a toothache, here are a few things that could be causing it. 
 
Basic Sensitivity
 
“Basic,” in this case, refers to the common type of cold sensitivity that many people experience. This type of sensitivity is typified by a brief episode of pain upon eating or drinking something very cold, followed by a quick return to normalcy. Cold and heat sensitivity are attributable to many different things: weakened or eroded enamel, cavities, and gum recession to name a few. In most cases, mild, infrequent sensitivity to temperature extremes is of little concern. But if the problem is more severe or more frequent, talk to your dentist about what may be going on. 
 
Cavities
 
It should come as no surprise that cavities can cause toothaches since, after all, cavities are the primary disease process affecting teeth. It has even been postulated that dental caries (cavities) is the most prevalent disease in the world! When cavities form, they break down the strong, outer tooth structure, effectively making the tooth more porous. Stimulants such as cold or hot food and drink, sweets, and even room temperature air can cause pain when this happens. 
 
Abscessed Teeth
 
An abscessed tooth is one in which the pulp, or nerve, of the tooth is infected by bacteria. An abscess is often times a dental emergency due to the amount of pain it causes, as well as the dangers of having a lingering bacterial infection in the body. An abscess is typified by dull, throbbing pain, which many people describe as a “heart beat” or “pulsating” sensation inside a tooth. Abscessed teeth are usually extremely sensitive to even mild thermal stimulants, hot and cold alike. Most people report a complete inability to chew on an abscessed tooth without significant pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, a visit to your dentist in the near future is highly advisable. 
 
Fortunately, almost all toothaches have treatment solutions that can ease the pain and keep the tooth healthy. If you are experiencing tooth pain, do not wait to contact your 46064 dentist. The sooner a tooth can be treated, the better the outcome will be.