Tooth pain can be one of the most distressing types of discomfort often sharp and impossible to ignore. It can disrupt your sleep, make eating or drinking difficult, and interfere with your daily life. In fact, around 24% of adults in the UK report experiencing current or recent tooth pain, highlighting just how common this issue is. But while common, tooth pain should never be ignored. It’s a clear sign that something isn’t right in your mouth.
There are many potential reasons behind tooth pain ranging from cavities and gum disease to cracked teeth and dental abscesses. Identifying the cause early is crucial to prevent the problem from worsening. Timely dental examination and treatment can relieve your pain and stop the issue from escalating.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the anatomy of tooth pain, the different types you might experience, what causes them, how dentists diagnose the problem, and the treatment options available.
Different Types of Toothache
Tooth pain can show up in different ways, and the type of pain you experience often reveals a lot about what’s going on beneath the surface. Below are the most common types of tooth pain:
Sensitivity Pain
If you feel a sharp pain when consuming hot or cold foods or drinks, you may have sensitive teeth. This is often caused by factors like gum recession, enamel erosion from hard brushing, teeth grinding, or frequent acidic food intake. In most cases, this discomfort is mild and disappears quickly, which is why many people tend to ignore it. It’s important to pay attention to the duration and intensity of the pain. If the pain is intense or lasts more than 30 seconds after the trigger is gone, it could indicate a more serious issue. In such cases, avoid extreme temperatures, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and see your dentist promptly.
Pain When Biting
If you feel a sharp sensation when biting or chewing especially on one specific side or tooth it’s a sign that something inside the tooth or the tissues around it may be irritated or damaged. This type of pain can be caused by several dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, or tooth sensitivity. In some cases, it could also be due to a small crack or fracture in the tooth that isn’t visible to the naked eye. These tiny cracks can open slightly when you bite, putting pressure on the inner nerves and causing pain.
Throbbing Pain
A throbbing or constant dull ache is a type of tooth pain that lingers and often comes in waves or low, steady pulses. Unlike the sudden, sharp sensation of sensitivity, this discomfort tends to persist and may gradually worsen. It’s often a sign of deeper issues like tooth decay, an abscess, or an underlying infection or inflammation. This kind of pain usually means the tooth’s nerve is affected and needs prompt treatment to prevent the infection from spreading to nearby tissues.
Sharp Pain
Sharp tooth pain is usually brief, but it can be sudden, intense, and quite uncomfortable often catching you off guard while eating your food. This type of pain may be caused by loose fillings or crowns, which expose sensitive areas of the tooth. Even if you don’t have any fillings, the pain can occur when nerve endings inside the tooth become irritated or exposed. This often happens when plaque buildup and bacteria lead to enamel erosion, making the tooth more sensitive to external triggers.
Causes of toothache
Tooth Decay (Cavities)
Tooth decay is a progressive condition that begins with the erosion of the tooth’s outer protective layer, known as enamel. It typically starts when you consume sugary or starchy foods. The bacteria naturally present in your mouth feed on these substances and produce acids as a byproduct. Over time, these acids break down the enamel and can penetrate deeper into the tooth, reaching the dentin and eventually the pulp, where the nerves and blood vessels are located. As the decay worsens, it can lead to inflammation and pressure within the tooth, causing pain that may become constant and intense. Anyone can develop cavities, but maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings can effectively prevent them.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a progressive infection of the tissues that support your teeth. It typically begins as gingivitis, marked by red, swollen, and bleeding gums due to the buildup of plaque, tartar, and bacteria. If not treated early, it can advance to periodontitis, a more serious form that affects the underlying bone and supporting structures of the teeth. Over time, untreated gum disease can lead to bone loss and is considered one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults worldwide.
Cracked Teeth
A cracked or fractured tooth occurs when there’s a break in the tooth structure, sometimes too small to see, but large enough to cause discomfort. Cracks can result from biting hard foods, dental trauma, or habits like teeth grinding. Over time, exposure to temperature changes can cause the crack to expand and contract, worsening the damage.
As the crack deepens, it can allow bacteria and food particles to reach the inner layers of the tooth. This can irritate or infect the pulp, often leading to sharp or sudden pain. In some cases, the pain may come and go, making the issue difficult to detect without a professional dental examination. Prompt diagnosis and treatment by a dentist are essential to prevent the crack from worsening or spreading further.
Bruxism
Bruxism is the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, which can occur during the day or more commonly at night – a condition known as sleep bruxism. Individuals with bruxism often wake up with jaw pain, facial muscle soreness, or headaches. Bruxism may be caused by a combination of physical, psychological, and genetic factors with stress, anxiety, depression, or even certain sleep disorders contributing to its development.
Over time, this repeated motion wears down the tooth enamel and puts significant pressure on the jaw and surrounding muscles. As the enamel wears away, it can lead to tooth sensitivity, microscopic fractures, and exposure of the dentin, which may irritate the tooth’s nerves. If left untreated, it can result in long-term damage to teeth and jaw joints.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms inside the tooth or at its root due to a bacterial infection. It usually develops as a result of untreated tooth decay, gum disease, or dental trauma, allowing bacteria to spread deep into the tooth or surrounding tissues.
As the infection progresses, it can lead to a buildup of pus, causing severe, throbbing pain, swelling of the gums or face, fever, and sometimes a foul taste in the mouth due to drainage. These symptoms indicate that the infection has reached an advanced stage. A dental abscess will not heal on its own and cannot be treated with home remedies. Prompt professional dental treatment is essential to drain the abscess, eliminate the infection, and prevent serious complications
Sinus Pressure & Other Non‑Dental Origins:
Tooth pain isn’t always caused by dental problems. Sometimes, it can stem from non-dental sources like sinus infections or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The roots of the upper back teeth sit very close to the sinus cavities.
When the sinuses become inflamed, congested, or filled with fluid, the resulting pressure can irritate nearby nerves, creating a sensation of pain in the upper teeth. This discomfort is usually described as a dull, aching pain and can easily be mistaken for a toothache.
Effective Treatment for Tooth Pain
Treating tooth pain effectively starts with identifying its underlying cause, which can only be done through a professional dental evaluation. Your dentist will begin by asking about your symptoms, performing a clinical examination, and may take X-rays to assess issues not visible to the eye such as decay beneath the surface, fractures, or infections.Once the cause is identified, the treatment will be tailored accordingly.
Here are some of the most common treatment options based on different causes of tooth pain:
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are a widely used and effective solution for treating cavities. The process begins with numbing the affected area followed by the careful removal of the decayed enamel using a dental drill. Once the decay is cleared, the cavity is thoroughly cleaned to eliminate any remaining bacteria and debris, helping to prevent future infection. The cleaned space is then filled with a tooth-colored, durable composite resin, which is skillfully shaped and contoured to match the tooth’s natural structure. This seals the cavity to stop further decay and relieve sensitivity caused by exposed dentin. As a result, the tooth is protected from discomfort when consuming hot, cold, or sweet foods.
Root Canal
It is a dental procedure designed to save a severely damaged or infected tooth by removing the infected pulp from inside. When decay or injury allows bacteria to reach the tooth’s pulp, it can lead to infection, inflammation, and intense pain. The dentist assesses and carefully removes the damaged pulp then thoroughly cleans and disinfects the root canals. The canals are then shaped and filled with a biocompatible material to seal the space and prevent reinfection. This procedure eliminates the source of pain and also preserves the natural tooth structure. Root canals are highly effective, commonly performed, and offer long-term relief from dental discomfort.
Scaling and Root planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical deep cleaning procedure commonly used to treat early to moderate gum disease by removing the bacterial buildup. The treatment begins with scaling, where a dentist or dental hygienist carefully removes plaque and hardened tartar from the gum line. This is followed by root planing, which involves smoothing the tooth root surfaces to promote healthy gum reattachment and reduce the risk of future bacterial buildup. After the procedure, patients are advised to maintain excellent oral hygiene at home and may need regular maintenance cleanings to prevent the recurrence of gum disease.
Desensitizing treatments
Desensitizing treatments are specifically designed to relieve tooth sensitivity by targeting exposed dentin and shielding the underlying nerves. The process typically begins with the application of fluoride gels or professional desensitizing agents, which help strengthen enamel and reduce sensitivity. These in-office treatments provide quick and often long-lasting relief. For continued protection, dentists often recommend the regular use of desensitizing toothpaste at home, along with lifestyle adjustments like avoiding acidic foods and beverages that can weaken enamel and worsen sensitivity.
Teeth Extraction
In severe cases where the tooth is beyond repair and cannot be saved with a filling, crown, or root canal tooth extraction is recommended. This may be due to a deep cavity, extensive infection, advanced gum disease, or significant dental trauma. When preservation isn’t possible, removing the affected tooth can provide immediate relief from severe pain and help prevent further complications to your overall oral health. After the extraction, your dentist will discuss suitable tooth replacement options, such as dental implants or bridges, to restore function and maintain the integrity of your smile.
Conclusion:
A toothache is your body’s way of telling you that something isn’t right with your teeth. Even if the pain seems minor, if it lasts more than a day or two, it’s important not to ignore it. Don’t wait for the pain to take over and book your appointment with a dentist.
At Warwick Lodge Dental and Implant Centre in the UK, our friendly and experienced team is here to help identify the cause of your tooth pain and deliver comprehensive care to relieve your discomfort.