What Is Your Toothache Trying to Tell You?

Depending on its severity, a toothache can be a bothersome nuisance, or it can be so disruptive as to ruin your entire day. What all toothaches have in common, however, is that they indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. Therefore, relieving a toothache means addressing the problem that is causing it. If you have a toothache that’s telling you to visit your dentist as soon as possible, then ignoring it could lead to increasingly more severe discomfort.   

Common Toothache Causes

• Weak tooth enamel – The enamel that surrounds your teeth is made almost entirely of minerals, and it acts as a shield that protects your tooth from harmful bacteria, food substances, and more. If oral bacteria weaken your tooth enamel, your tooth will grow increasingly more sensitive. If ignored, then it will lead to cavity development and worse pain.
• Cavities – If your sensitive tooth suddenly starts to hurt significantly, then weak enamel may have given way to tooth decay and cavity development. As oral bacteria infect your tooth structure, they create a cavity (or hole) in the tooth. The cavity makes it easier for oral bacteria to irritate your tooth’s nerves, heightening your tooth’s pain as it advances.
• Tooth cracks/fractures – In many cases, a tooth hurts because its structure has been cracked or fractured without you realizing it. Excessive pressure from teeth-grinding or from a misaligned bite can stress one or more of your teeth to the point that they become damaged. If this happens, then the resulting toothache could be your warning to seek treatment before the tooth becomes even more damaged and needs extensive restoration.

Learn More About How to Treat Your Toothache

If you’re suffering from a chronic toothache, then speak with your dentist about diagnosing and treating it. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX, today at 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE).