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Signs Your Tooth Pain Is Signaling Something More Serious

You unwrap your favorite ice cream bar and can already taste that creamy vanilla ice cream with the hard chocolate coating. You take that first bite, mouth watering, and…OUCH!

An intense, throbbing pain shoots through your molar—and throughout your entire body. Maybe you just banged your tooth. Maybe it's something worse.

Occasional mouth pain may just indicate a sensitivity to hot or cold, which can become increasingly common as you get older. But different types of toothaches—and other symptoms associated with this pain—can be indicators that you're developing one of several serious health conditions that need immediate treatment.

Don't just pop an ibuprofen and assume it'll go away. Read on to learn about 20 signs that indicate you need to take your tooth pain seriously. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Symptoms Everyone Needs to Know About During This Pandemic.

It Hurts When You Chew

If your tooth sends a sharp, shooting pain when you take a bite of something, it may be cracked or damaged. If you don't remember some kind of trauma—getting hit in the mouth, biting down on a Gobstopper—this crack may have occurred from grinding your teeth at night or clenching your jaw too intensely. Exposed nerves from a cracked tooth produce this pain and if left untreated, can cause the spread of bacteria and lead to an infection.

It might also hurt to chew because your tooth enamel has worn down. Tooth enamel protects your teeth's nerves from outside factors that can cause pain. If the enamel wears down, you'll notice increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods, which can cause that instant zing of pain when you chew. Depending on the pattern of your enamel disappearance, it may also be related to chronic acid reflux or a poor diet. According to a study published in the International Journal of Dentistry, dentists may be the first to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because they can spot these tooth erosion patterns.

The Rx: A cracked tooth must be addressed immediately to prevent infection or decay. Visit your dentist so he or she can fix it. If you're experiencing a loss of tooth enamel, you'll need to examine your dietary habits and gastrointestinal health. There's no way to get tooth enamel back once it's gone, so the sooner you make healthy lifestyle changes, the less likely you are to experience pain when chewing in the future.

Your Gums Bleed When You Floss

Bloody gums while flossing may be a sign of gum disease, a buildup of plaque and bacteria on the gums that causes your gums to recede from your teeth. According to the U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, most adults in the U.S. have some form of this disease but it's more likely to occur in adults who are 30 to 40 years of age. In the most mild cases, it results in bloody and slightly receding gums. In severe cases, it can lead to tooth loss and decay.

The Rx: Regularly brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day (don't lie to your dentist! She knows when you do!) can generally prevent gum disease. A professional deep clean once every six months can also keep this disease at bay. If your tooth pain is associated with bloody gums, visit your dentist. He or she may suggest additional oral health care, such as a daily mouthwash, or a procedure to save your teeth in severe cases.

You Feel an Intense Throbbing Pain

An intense, throbbing pain in your tooth that isn't associated with eating may indicate you're dealing with a tooth infection. A tooth infection occurs when bacteria invades the tooth's pulp, which is the inner part of the tooth, where the connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels are located. Infections are serious because they can spread to other parts of your body if left untreated. According to the Mayo Clinic, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, or a diet that's high in sugar can cause a tooth infection.

The Rx: If you're feeling an intense, throbbing pain in your tooth, make an emergency dentist appointment as soon as you can. Your dentist needs to treat the infection so it doesn't spread, which may mean draining the abscess and prescribing antibiotics.

You Feel Pressure

If your tooth pain is associated with pressure, it may indicate that your wisdom teeth are giving you trouble. According to a study by Dr. Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted every year in the United States. Your wisdom teeth do most of their growing and changing when you're 16 to 23 years of age.

If they seemed to grow normally throughout these years, your dentist at the time may have opted to let them stay in. However, when you get older, they can still begin to crowd your other teeth. If your wisdom teeth grew in at an angle, they're more susceptible to infections or tooth decay, which can cause other problems in your mouth if they aren't taken out.

The Rx: Go see your dentist so he or she can take x-rays of your mouth and see what's going on with your wisdom teeth. If they're starting to crowd your other teeth or don't look healthy, you may need to get them removed for your tooth pain and pressure to finally go away.

Your Jaw or Neck Are Swollen

If you recently underwent dental surgery, your jaw may swell a bit as you heal. However, if you haven't had any work done recently and you notice a swelling of your jaw or neck in addition to your tooth pain, it can be a sign that you have a tooth abscess. Your tooth is infected and has caused a buildup of pus and bacteria, which has spread to your jaw or neck. The infection can also spread to other teeth, surrounding bones, and in severe cases, your ears or brain.

The Rx: If your tooth pain is accompanied by jaw or neck swelling, you need to seek emergency dental treatment. An abscess never goes away on its own. Your dentist must provide treatment, which may involve a root canal or tooth extraction, and you may need to take antibiotics to stop the infection from spreading.

Your Tooth Feels Loose

If you have tooth pain and the tooth itself feels loose, it's a sign of advanced gum disease, also called periodontal disease. We already know how bad this disease is for your mouth and the trouble it can cause when it spreads, so it's important to get it taken care of right away. A loose tooth can also occur if you have a cavity or tooth decay that you haven't had treated.

The Rx: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in every 5 adults who are aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. Don't become a statistic! Visit your dentist so he or she can figure out if you have periodontal disease or cavities. The sooner you get treatment for the problem, the more likely it is your tooth can be saved.

The Pain Is Dull and Consistent

A constant and persistent toothache is not only annoying, it can also be a sign of something more serious. If your consistent pain is centralized to one area and accompanied by swollen or inflamed gums, it could indicate you have a foreign substance stuck in your gums. Try to floss thoroughly and see if you feel better.

If your dull pain is generalized throughout your entire mouth, it may mean you're grinding your teeth at night. This can be dangerous because it can lead to chipped or broken teeth or the onset of TMJ.

The Rx: Try to record when and where you feel this dull, consistent toothache. Visit your dentist so he or she can investigate further and provide you with the right treatment. Your dentist might find an infection or abscess that needs to be treated. If teeth grinding is to blame, he or she or may recommend wearing a nightguard.

(04/17/2022)
by Kelly Hernandez

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