Toothaches, we’ve all experienced them and immediately jumped to the conclusion to call an emergency dentist in Salinas. Most of the time the natural thought is I have an infected cavity or gums – but this isn’t always the case. There are many different causes of a toothache, including things that have nothing to do with your teeth.
Here are several common causes of toothaches:
- Wisdom teeth, whether impacted or misaligned, can cause sudden, deep pain. It will start out as more of a dull ache, but if you let it go, it can become worse. These teeth are pushing against the roots of your other teeth or against the teeth themselves, and this causes weeks and weeks of pain.
- Broken or chipped teeth also cause pain. Sometimes we will fall or chip a tooth and not even notice. However, if the break is bad enough and the pulp (nerve) of the tooth is exposure, you might feel a sharp pain that grows over time. Cracks or chips are a great place for bacteria to sit, so make sure you get them taken care of. Finding a good Salinas Dentist is important to repairing and restoring your teeth.
- Tooth Decay is the main cause of cavities. Small cavities usually don’t have much pain associated with them, but if the cavity is bad enough and reaches the inner layer of the tooth, then problems can pop up and the tooth can become sensitive. If your pain is intense and sharp, then it might be a cavity.
- Gum disease can also cause a toothache. Gum disease is a direct result of not taking care of your teeth well enough and can lead to an abscess, swelling, or bone loss. The pain from this should be dull, but can become worse if not treated.
- Grinding or bruxism (the medical term for teeth grinding) is a growing problem that can cause toothaches. You wear down your teeth and can crack or expose the pulp. In extreme cases, people even grind down to the nerve. Toothaches happen, but sometimes pain in the jaw and surrounding muscles can develop, as well as headaches.
- Sinus infections can, believe it or not, cause toothaches. Your sinuses under your eyes can swell and push down on the roots and nerves of the teeth, making it feel like you have a toothache when you do not.
Dr. Mark Washburn has been a practicing Salinas Dentist for more than 30 years. If you experience any toothaches, it is important to scheduled an appointment as soon as you can.
Your Romie Lane Dentist, Dr. Washburn, prides himself in Same Day Care and being on call whenever needed. In some cases, the pain can easily be managed with an over the counter medicine, but other times it can require dental assistance or medications. Feel free to call us today for your dental exam.