Are you suffering from pain in your teeth or gums? If so, you will need to call your dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment. Today, our Vancouver dentists discuss the possible causes of tooth or gum pain as well as how you can manage your discomfort until your dental appointment.
What could cause tooth & gum pain?
If you are experiencing a toothache, you should always visit your dentist as soon as possible to have them diagnose the cause, it doesn't matter if your pain is minor or severe. Most of the time, a thorough oral hygiene routine can help prevent discomfort or toothaches. But, there are lots of reasons why you could be experiencing pain in your gums or teeth such as the following:
Tooth Decay/ Cavity
Though cavities often happen gradually, pain can occur suddenly. This should be taken care of as soon as possible to prevent any infections from developing.
Injury, Grinding, or Trauma
It doesn't matter if you grind your teeth while you sleep and gradually wear them down, or you suddenly get injured, such as while participating in sports, a damaged or fractured tooth can be extremely painful – don’t ignore this. Your dentist should be able to treat it with either bonding, crown, or filling.
Grinding could also lead to tooth sensitivity problems. Ask your dentist how you can put an end to this harmful habit.
Wisdom Teeth
When your wisdom teeth get impacted, it can be painful because of the added pressure it puts on the neighbouring teeth or infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can even cause secondary problems including tooth crowding and damage if they don't have enough space to erupt properly.
Abscessed Tooth
Bacterial infections could cause pockets filled with pus. This doesn't just lead to painful sensitivity, but may also develop into a more serious, or possibly life-threatening, condition.
Gum Disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) can range from early-stage (gingivitis) to moderate and severe. In the early stages, your dentist may treat your gingivitis with a procedure called scaling and root planing – the process of removing plaque buildup from the gum line.
For a more urgent case that’s progressed to severe gum disease, you may need a root canal, antibiotics, and/or surgery.
Other Possible Causes
We should note that some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity, which doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem.
Using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth may help. You should also attempt to avoid eating extremely hot or cold food and drinks until the sensitivity goes away.
If you notice ongoing sensitivity (for more than a couple of days), this may be cause for more serious concerns, such as gum recession, and you should see your dentist.
There are also times the issue that’s causing your tooth pain may lie outside your mouth. Viral or sinus infections, vitamin deficiencies, headaches or colds may cause symptoms similar to what you might feel with a toothache.
However, it’s still worth it to schedule an appointment with your dentist as ignoring or misdiagnosing the pain yourself could lead to serious issues. Most dental pain won’t stop on its own and should be assessed by your dentist.
Ways to Help Relieve Tooth pain
If you want to alleviate your tooth or gum pain, you will first need to book an appointment with your dentist so they can diagnose and treat the problem.
While you are waiting for your appointment, there are several home remedies you can try to help manage your discomfort. Place an ice pack or take over-the-counter pain medications to reduce pain and inflammation. Sometimes, a saltwater rinse can also help soothe and relieve tooth pain.