A toothache can seem like a pretty mundane problem until you develop one. Once the pain sets in, however, your number one goal will probably be to find relief. In order to relieve a toothache, however, it is necessary to know the cause. Some toothaches require dental assistance while other times they can be treated at home. Here to help you determine the cause of your toothache is your Allen dentist, Dr. Marco Cueva.
Three Potential Causes of Toothaches
- Food particles or other irritants. Sometimes food gets stuck in and around teeth. When it does, you may experience pain. Because these kinds of toothaches are quite common, it is a good practice to rinse your mouth with warm water and to floss when you develop a toothache. Rinsing and flossing can often remove the irritant and relieve the toothache.
- Bruxism. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, subjects teeth to damaging forces. Because bruxism occurs during the night, you may not even realize that you are grinding your teeth until you develop pain in your teeth or jaw. Without treatment, bruxism can result in structural damage to your teeth. This damage can manifest itself in the forms of chipped teeth, cracked teeth, or broken teeth. Thus, if you develop a toothache that does not fade, seek dental care.
- Cracked tooth. When a tooth suffers structural damage, it is more vulnerable to decay and stimuli. If a tooth is cracked, irritants have an easier time accessing and irritating the tooth’s pulp, the innermost layer. The pulp is filled with nerves, meaning that stimuli will register with you, perhaps in the form of a toothache. A toothache caused by a cracked tooth will linger, so if your toothache persists, visit your Allen dentist, Dr. Cueva.
Schedule a Visit with Your Allen Dentist
If you have a lingering toothache, don’t neglect dental care. Doing so may compromise your oral health. Schedule an appointment or a consultation with your Allen dentist, Dr. Cueva, today. Our 75013 dental office welcomes patients from Allen, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Murphy, Wylie, Lewisville, Carrolton, and surrounding communities.
