The Main Causes Of Toothaches & How To Manage Tooth Pain

In Vancouver, about 10.4% of residents report having at least one toothache in the past month, and the majority of these people (69.9%) managed their tooth pain effectively by taking OTC painkillers.

Even so, there is a troubling trend in our at-home responses to toothaches: Overall, all the current data on dental care in Canada — especially in British Columbia — points to the fact that people would experience less and less severe toothaches if they had earlier access to dental care.

Getting regular dental checkups comes with innumerable benefits. Visit Smile Well Dental for your half-yearly dental checkup and get rid of impending toothaches.

The Most Common Causes Of Toothaches

Broadly speaking, tooth cavities are the most common cause of any kind of toothache. Nevertheless, specific types of tooth pain can signal the presence of other problems and yield clues about the severity of decay involved:

Type 1: Temporary Tooth Sensitivity

If you experience temporary tooth sensitivity (lasting fewer than 30 seconds) when ingesting hot or cold foods/beverages, it does likely not cause significant concern. Most often, this kind of tooth pain is the result of mild tooth decay or gum recession.

Professional dentists and hygienists at almost every dental clinic in Vancouver will recommend troubleshooting this kind of tooth pain by using a softer toothbrush and toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. If sensitivity persists after this point or becomes more long-lasting, the best dental clinics in Vancouver will schedule an appointment for you in short order; persistent sensitivity and lingering pain can signal the presence of dental cavities and gum disease that cannot be managed at home.

Type 2: Lingering Tooth Sensitivity

If the pain you experience in response to hot or cold temperature exposure lasts longer than 30 seconds, you very likely have one or more untreated cavities or significant trauma-related tooth damage that needs professional attention. When you visit a dental clinic in Vancouver for this kind of toothache, your dentist will likely take x-rays to determine the severity of the decay/damage and may recommend a root canal procedure.

Related Post: Why Does My Jaw Hurt?

Type 3: Throbbing Pain Or Constant Pressure In The Tooth That Is Aggravated By Chewing

This type of toothache is most often indicative of an infection in the dental pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth, surrounding the nerve). This requires a dental appointment at a qualified dental clinic in Vancouver as, left untreated, this type of infection can easily become an abscess. An abscess, characterized by severe throbbing pain, would require emergency treatment.

Type 4: Sharp, Stabbing Pain When Biting Down

Sharp pain in the mouth can indicate a wide variety of conditions that advance with varying speed. For example, this type of pain can signal that the tooth has cracked or chipped to expose the nerve, or that an existing filling has become loose or that there is recurrent decay at the site of an old filling. In either of these cases, conducting a brief visual examination of the tooth at home can help you determine the cause.

Yet this type of pain can also indicate severe tooth decay, infection of the dental pulp, or even the early stages of an abscess. Consequently, just because you cannot see a cause for the pain does not mean it is not a significant problem.

In either case, the best course of action is to seek treatment at a professional dental clinic in Vancouver, where a dentist can make a definitive diagnosis of the root cause.

Type 5: Dull Aches Or Pressure (Especially In The Upper Jaw)

Among the different toothaches people experience, a dull ache or feeling of pressure is the least likely to be associated with tooth decay. Rather, experiencing this kind of toothache may be a sign of grinding your teeth (bruxism) or that your wisdom teeth are erupting [4]. Wearing a mouthguard may help minimize this kind of pain associated with bruxism, but only a visit to a qualified dental clinic in Vancouver can diagnose and help manage wisdom teeth eruption.

How to get rid of toothache temporarily?

The ultimate solution to getting rid of your toothache lies in your dentist’s capable hands, who can come up with the best treatment plan depending on your condition. However, for temporary pain relief, you can try the following methods:

Dab with an ice pack

Wrap ice in a towel and hold it to the side of your mouth that hurts. Cold has the wonderful effect of dulling most pain, and your teeth are no different. Of course, the toothache might not go away, but you can fall into a fitful sleep, even if you don’t get a deep one.

Don’t eat certain food before bed

If you have been experiencing toothache all day, it would be good to avoid certain types of food before you go to sleep. Some of them can cause the pain to worsen. This means no consuming hard-to-chew food, cold food, or those with acid in it. It can cause aggression to the already painful tooth and cavities.

Rinse with mouthwash

Particularly look for mouthwashes with alcohol in them. Not only will your teeth be disinfected, but it will also have the effect of numbing the pain.

Keep your head higher

When you go to sleep, you might want to have a pillow underneath your head. Your head should be in an elevated position compared to your body. You do not want the blood to pool in your head. If it does, the toothache can get worse. You won’t be sleeping any time during the night soon then.

Use OTC medication

We will recommend calling your dentist and asking for advice on over-the-counter medication for pain relief. However, if there is no way to contact them, you will have to rely on generic medicines from the store.

If the toothache is relatively minor, you can use Advil or Tylenol to numb it. Even aspirin is a good idea during toothache, at least for the headache that occurs from the toothache. You can combine benzocaine with numbing gel or paste too.

However, benzocaine should be used with extreme caution, especially if the patient is a child or an infant. You absolutely can not use benzocaine for them.

Consequently, the best tactic for managing tooth pain is to seek the guidance of a trained dental professional concerning your specific situation. Contact us or browse Smile Well Dental for more information regarding toothaches and other dental tips.