You might know the sensation, pain, and discomfort when you suffer from toothache. While it is common to assume that your toothache is the result of a cavity, there are other conditions too that could be the cause of your toothache. From tooth decay to bruxism, here are different types of toothache and their management tips.
Toothache Related To Decay
Tooth decay can be one of the causes of your toothache, in which you would experience sharp, uncomfortable pain. A cavity is a specific area of tooth decay that is brought on by the action of oral bacteria. Tooth decay can irritate the nerves and blood vessels in your teeth. Also, a deep tooth cavity can lead to tooth sensitivity and pain. If the cavity is not filled, it could cause a serious infection that could spread to the tooth's roots.
A filling from your dentist is one of the cures for a cavity. Make an appointment right away if you think you might have a cavity or if you have a toothache. Meanwhile, brush your teeth as you normally would in the interim.
Also Read: Using Vapes Linked To Dental Decay, Reveals Study
Toothache Related To Gum Disease
If you have gum disease, you are likely to experience tooth pain. As the name suggests, gum disease is an infection of the gum-line tissues. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, it can lead to gum recession, exposing the roots of the teeth. In such cases, you would experience sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli, along with tooth pain, that can range from mild to severe.
Its management involves its prevention. Be careful to floss and brush your teeth daily, and schedule regular dental cleanings and examinations to ward off gum disease. Your dentist might suggest treatments if you have gum disease to help control the condition and ease toothaches.
Toothache Related To Dental Injury
Injury to your tooth also results in toothache and discomfort. You will probably experience soreness if you hurt your teeth in an accident or from a fall. In this case, if all of your teeth are intact, over-the-counter pain relievers can usually solve the problem. But if they have become loose or come out of the socket, you should immediately rush to your dentist.
Toothache Related To TMJ Disorders
The jaws of your joints are also known as temporomandibular joints (TMJ). When these joints become inflamed or suffer other issues, they cause pain, which can radiate to the teeth and even the head. All of these conditions are referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
When you suffer from TMD, you may experience pain while opening and closing the jaw, difficulty chewing, and clicking and popping sounds while grinding teeth. Issues like stress, anxiety, muscle spasms, bruxism, and improper dental procedure can cause TMD. The management involves reducing stress, limiting food that is hard and causes inflammation, and routinely going to a dentist for checkups.
Also Read: What To Avoid If You Have TMJ Disorder, Expert Explains
Toothache Related To Bruxism
Bruxism is the cause if you wake up with tooth pain in the morning. Also known as teeth grinding or clenching, bruxism can happen at any time but more often while you are asleep. Bruxism is purely an unconscious or involuntary action, and in the long term, it can lead to a tender jaw with pain, fatigue of facial muscles, neck aches, headaches, and even hearing loss.
Bruxism wears the enamel and makes your teeth sensitive to a hot and cold stimuli. Teeth grinding can also affect your temporomandibular joints, complicating temporomandibular joints disorder.
The management of bruxism lies in managing stress, practising muscle relaxing exercises, and using mouthguards while sleeping to prevent involuntary clenching of the teeth.
Bottomline
These are the five most common types of toothache, resulting from various issues of oral health. Your toothache can be mild to severe, and in both cases, your immediate response should be to go to a dentist and seek a diagnosis of the underlying issue.
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