Tooth Pain

Pain that emanates from any of your teeth is never a good sign. Pain tells you something is wrong. It may be from tooth decay or from an accident. An infected tooth, called an abscess, also causes tooth pain. The type of pain you feel and where in your mouth it’s located, may give clues about its source. Still, it’s always best to make an appointment  with your Albany County family dentist to have your pain evaluated.

 

Most people have suffered from tooth pain at some point in their lives. But there are many types of tooth pain, from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain. Depending on your tolerance level, any type of pain in your teeth or gums can be debilitating. Types of pain can include:

• Wisdom tooth pain 
• Tooth pain after fillings 
• Tooth sensitivity after fillings 
• Tooth nerve pain
• Front tooth pain
• Throbbing tooth pain 
• Extreme tooth pain

Whatever type of pain you feel, it’s a sign that you should visit your Albany-area restorative family dentist.  Only a dentist can diagnose the source of your pain and treat it. Tooth decay  is the most common cause of tooth pain, but there are other causes, as well.

What’s Causing Your Pain?

Check your symptoms against this list and be prepared to explain what you suspect to your dentist when you go in for a visit:

• Temporary tooth sensitivity. If you feel mild discomfort from eating hot or cold foods and drinks, you may have minor tooth decay. Other possible causes include a loose dental filling, receding gums that expose vulnerable parts of your teeth or tooth sensitivity after fillings.
• Two-week tooth sensitivity. Sometimes, the pulp within a tooth becomes irritated, which increases its sensitivity for two to four weeks. If your tooth is still sensitive after four weeks, return to your Albany County dentist for an exam.
• Lingering tooth sensitivity. If your tooth sensitivity lasts for longer than 30 seconds after eating or drinking something hot or cold, you may have damage to the tooth pulp, from either decay or impact.  You may require a root canal,  so visit your dentist as soon as possible.
• Wisdom tooth pain. The pain when wisdom teeth emerge can be excruciating, especially if there’s no room in your mouth for them. You experience wisdom tooth pain behind your molars at the rear of your mouth.
• Tooth pain while eating. If you experience extreme tooth pain when biting into food, you may be suffering from either a broken tooth,  a loose filling, tooth decay or damage to the tooth pulp. Visit your Albany County dentist for tooth pain relief.
• Extreme tooth pain. Severe pain and pressure, in conjunction with swollen gums, may mean you have an abscessed tooth, which results from an infection  in or beneath the tooth. It can spread to the adjacent bone and gum tissue. Take non-prescription pain medication for the pain and schedule an appointment with Albany County Dental Associates. 
• Front tooth pain. Front tooth pain can be particularly uncomfortable, especially when it’s the result of major or minor tooth decay. A front tooth filling is often necessary to clean out the bacteria and protect the tooth from future harm.
• A dull ache in your upper teeth. If you feel pressure in your upper jaw or upper front tooth pain, you may just have a sinus headache. Over-the-counter pain medicine can give you tooth pain relief from a sinus headache. If it lasts more than a few days, see your dentist.

Home Treatments for Tooth Pain Relief

If you’re suffering from pain in your teeth while you’re waiting to visit the dentist, continue with your normal dental health  routine. Try products designed for sensitive teeth, including extra soft toothbrushes, comfort glide dental floss, and special toothpastes.

You can also get temporary tooth pain relief from a warm saltwater rinse. It reduces inflammation as it helps loosen food particles stuck between your teeth. A quick but vigorous hydrogen peroxide rinse also reduces inflammation while killing bacteria.

Your Dentist’s Tooth Decay Treatment

During your exam, which may include x-rays, your family dentist looks for areas of decay. If any are found, you most likely need a cavity filling. The steps involve:

1. Your dentist numbs the area around your tooth with a local anesthetic.
2. Once you’re numb, the decayed material is cleared away.
3. The resulting hole in your tooth  is often filled with a composite resin material. Any tooth pain after filling procedures is rare.

You may experience front tooth sensitivity after filling the tooth for up to a month. While normal, it’s rare to last that long. Minimize rear or front tooth pain after fillings — as well as tooth sensitivity after fillings — by avoiding extreme temperature foods and beverages.