Understanding the reasons for sudden toothache is crucial in oral health care. A sudden flash of pain in your gums and teeth is one of the most common occurrences. So, if you feel a spontaneous ache in your mouth, you are not alone.
To give you an estimate of how prevalent this dental issue is, let’s take a look at one of the survey studies conducted by the Journal of American Family Physician. According to their survey, around 22% of individuals have experienced sudden and severe discomfort in all areas of the mouth.
It’s important to identify the reasons for sudden toothache because these pains are almost always an early sign of other major dental issues that can wreak havoc on your oral health.
Keep reading to learn more about the reasons for sudden toothache.
Reasons For Sudden Toothache
1. Receding Gums:
Gums refer to the layer of soft tissue that covers the bone and tooth root. The primary function of the gum line is to protect the nerve endings of your teeth. However, as you age, the gum tissue begins to wear, resulting in gum recession.
One of the reasons for sudden toothache is the first sign of gum recession, which is a visible tooth root that subjects your teeth to sensitivity and pain. Furthermore, gum recessions can cause your gum line to flare up, exposing you to a myriad of gum diseases and tooth infections.
To address this issue, you will need to visit the dentist’s office. Depending on the type of gum recession, the dentist can prescribe a multitude of treatment options that best suit your dental needs. Non-surgical treatment options for mild cases of gum recession include topical antibiotics, orthodontics, and dental bonding.
However, if you have severely receding gums, you may need to have gum recession surgery to completely correct the dental condition. Here at Micris Dental Clinic, we are equipped with the top periodontal experts in the field who can employ modern approaches to treat your receding gums.
2. Enamel Erosion:
Enamel erosion refers to the depleting quality of your tooth enamel structure and the dentin that comprises it. One of the major factors that contribute to enamel erosion is the consumption of a highly acidic diet. When these acids are exposed to your teeth, the enamel, or the hard protective coating layer of the tooth, wears away. This can cause significant pain and tooth sensitivity.
Along with sharp pain in the teeth, dental erosion can also increase your risk of other dental problems such as cavities, tooth decay, irregular teeth, and much more.
Since enamel erosion exposes you to sensitive teeth, it can hamper the quality of your life. This means that you will be unable to eat or drink without feeling intolerable pain in your teeth. Thus, as soon as you notice any sensitivity issues with your teeth, you should consult a dentist. To solve this problem, the dentist may suggest certain treatment options such as dental fillings, crowns, dental bonding, or veneers to restore the function of your teeth and alleviate pain.
3. Tooth Decay & Cavities:
Without the upkeep of good oral hygiene, you can easily be susceptible to dental problems like tooth decay and cavities. Wondering how issues like tooth decay and cavities are connected to oral hygiene? Let us explain.
While brushing your teeth, you might inadvertently leave out some areas of your mouth. When this occurs, the bacteria that is lodged between the corners of the teeth can develop and form a sticky layer of plaque.
Over time, due to negligent dental behaviour, plaque deteriorates into decay and finally creates cavities in your teeth. As a result, you may experience sudden tooth pain that hinders your ability to consume food, talk, work, study, etc.
The type of treatment recommended by your dentist is primarily determined by the extent of tooth decay and the size of the cavity in your teeth. You may require dental procedures that can range from simple fluoride treatments to dental fillings or even root canal procedures.
4. Gum Infections:
Amongst one of the reasons for sudden toothache is gum infection. If left untreated, the intolerable pain caused by the infected gum line can progress into much worse dental conditions like gum diseases or periodontal diseases like gingivitis.
Gum infections materialise due to a lack of proper oral hygiene. While dental concerns such as cavities or tooth decay are more typically linked with poor oral health, they can potentially progress to serious gum diseases in rare cases.
Thus, you need to be mindful while eating and drinking foods that can damage your teeth and gums. Nevertheless, if you have gum disease, you will need to undergo treatments such as professional dental cleanings or deep cleanings, which are often performed by a dental hygienist or a periodontist.
5. Fractured Tooth or Teeth:
Toothache is not limited to maintaining your oral hygiene. This means that even with good oral health, you can still be vulnerable to sudden, sharp pain in your teeth. But why?
Fractured tooth, another reason for sudden toothache, can occur because habits like grinding or clenching your teeth can cause them to crack or break. As a result of fractured teeth, you can develop excruciating pain, and the wearing away of your tooth enamel can also cause you to develop teeth sensitivity issues.
Hence, to obtain relief from the pain pertaining to your teeth, you may be required to fix your damaged tooth or teeth either using dental crowns or dental implants. Additionally, you’ll also need to protect yourself from poor dental habits like grinding and clenching your teeth.
Therefore, in order to prevent the emergence of toothache and the associated discomfort it brings to your lifestyle, you need to maintain good oral hygiene and have regular dental check-ups to protect your teeth.
Suffering from toothache?
Tips to Avoid Toothache
Let us look at some tips to avoid toothache and discomfort:
Brushing and flossing:
The first step to avoiding any kind of soreness in your teeth is to practise proper brushing and flossing techniques. This way, you will be able to avoid the spurt of tooth decay and cavities in your teeth. Our dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day and floss at least once a day to maintain good oral health. Also, make sure you receive the required amount of fluoride treatments to strengthen your tooth’s enamel.
Avoid foods that cause cavities:
Following that, you will need to drastically alter your dietary habits and lifestyle. This includes restricting yourself from foods and drinks that are high in sugar. This is a guaranteed way to prevent germs from multiplying in your mouth and causing tooth decay. Consume foods that encourage the development of healthy teeth and bones, such as fruits and dairy products, to keep your teeth and gums strong.
Visit your dentist regularly:
You need to visit the dentist regularly, i.e., at least once every six months. By getting a routine dental check-up, you can prevent dental problems in their early stages. The dentist will also advise you on the best dental treatments you need to pursue to keep your teeth and gums healthy; whilst still preserving the aesthetic function of your smile. Some of these dental treatment procedures suggested to you are:
- Teeth cleaning
- Teeth whitening
- Restorative treatments like crowns, implants, or veneers
If you are dealing with a toothache and the distress from the same has begun to impede your quality of life, contact our dentist immediately. At Micris Dental Clinic, we have some of the top dental experts in the field who will provide you with the best-suited dental care you need.
Don’t live in agony!
Let us help you figure out the cause of your pain and treat it right away.
To book an appointment with one of our dental specialists or to know more about our services, Check our website.
Reference: An Overview of Toothaches
