Everyone experiences tooth or gum pain at some point in their life. If left untreated, tooth and gum pain can worsen over time, resulting in more serious dental issues, such as jaw pain and infection. But don’t worry! You can take steps to help alleviate your discomfort and prevent further pain in the future.
Different symptoms of gum and toothaches
- Sharp, Stabbing pain, Throbbing pain.
- Constant, Deep, Dull ache.
- Pain that worsens when chewing or moving the jaw.
- Sensitivity while eating or drinking something hot or cold.
- Pain around the teeth, jaw joint (TMJ), and ears.
- Swelling of the face, gums, and jaw near the affected area.
- Headache or neck pain related to a toothache.
- Fever or fatigue due to an infection associated with toothache.
What Causes Gum and Dental Pain?
Tooth or gum pain can be caused by various factors, such as cavities, tooth decay, cracked teeth, gingivitis, abscesses, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or poor oral hygiene. Uncovering the root cause of any dental issue is essential to understand how best to address it. A visit to the dentist is usually advised when experiencing tooth or gum pain.
What Underlying Dental Ailments Could Be Causing Your Gum And Tooth Pain?
Cavities
Cavities occur when bacteria inside your mouth break down the enamel on your teeth. That creates a hole that can lead to pain in your tooth or gums. Acting promptly to fix cavities is essential to avoid further damage to your teeth. Common treatments for cavities include fillings and crowns.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is an insidious infection ravaging the gums and surrounding tissues supporting your teeth. It’s usually caused by plaque buildup around the gum line, leading to inflammation, tenderness, redness, swelling, and pain in the gums or jaw. Common treatments for gum disease include professional cleanings, antibiotics, scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), or even surgery in severe cases.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a more severe form of gum disease. If you don’t address this problem quickly, it can extend to deeper structures that support your teeth, such as gums, periodontal ligaments and bones.
Depending on how advanced the issue is, pain may range from slight to intense and radiate throughout other parts of your mouth or jaw.
Wisdom Teeth
As you reach your later teen years and enter adulthood, wisdom teeth become the last set of molars to emerge. Often these teeth cause discomfort or push other teeth in your mouth out of alignment when they arrive between ages 17-25.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a common treatment for impacted wisdom teeth (when they don’t have enough room to grow) because they can cause discomfort and inflammation in the gums if left untreated.
Abscesses
Abscesses An abscess may arise from a bacterial infection near the root or neck of a tooth, causing facial puffiness, fever and redness/swelling in nearby lymph nodes. In addition to feeling unwell, you may experience bad breath/bad taste due to pus buildup surrounding affected areas.
If necessary, treatment for abscesses usually requires antibiotics followed by a root canal procedure to remove any remaining infected tissue from within the root canal system of a tooth.
Canker Sores
Canker sores can make painful gums an unfortunate reality. Painful, shallow ulcers that appear in the mouth are often known as canker sores. They can cause inflammation and gum irritation, which may lead to much discomfort. They can be caused by allergies, bacteria, viruses or trauma to the mouth. Avoiding irritants, such as highly acidic foods and drinks, can help prevent future canker sores from forming.
In extreme cases, these painful canker sores can adversely affect gum health. In addition to the physical pain they cause, these painful wounds commonly leave people feeling drained due to their constant reminders not to eat or drink anything to relieve gum pain. Luckily, there are ways to treat canker sores and reduce gum pain. With proper oral care and vigilance against painful episodes, you can have relief from your sore gums soon!
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder, otherwise known as TMJ, is a condition that causes pain in the jaw and surrounding areas. Common symptoms include pain when speaking or chewing, painful clicking of the jaw joint when opening and closing the mouth, difficulty opening and closing the mouth, and headaches related to jaw pain.
TMJ treatment usually involves physical therapy, exercises to strengthen the jaw muscles and improve range of motion, medications such as muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories, or a bite guard at night.
Pain Relief Treatment Options
If you are experiencing sore gums or painful teeth, several treatment options are available for relief. To reduce minor aches and pains, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can provide quick relief. Your dentist may also prescribe stronger medicines for more severe cases of pain. Additionally, your dentist may suggest rinsing with salt water or using an antiseptic mouthwash to reduce bacteria in your mouth, which could be causing the pain. Depending on the cause of the issue, your dentist may recommend other treatments, such as fillings or crowns, to fix cavities; root canal treatment; braces if you need orthodontic work; extractions if an affected tooth must be removed; or other types of dental surgery if necessary.
How Can Treating The Source Of A Toothache Or Inflamed Gums Benefit You?
When gums hurt or teeth become acutely sensitive, it can indicate a deeper dental health problem. An experienced dental professional is uniquely qualified to recognise when gums are sore due to simple plaque buildup and when there may be a more serious underlying cause, such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, or other infections.
Treating the source of the toothache or gums inflammation can help ensure that any condition does not worsen over time into something more serious and costly to treat – such as gum recession – while also preventing related issues that include bad breath and loss of teeth.
Taking these small proactive steps with your dentist can help maintain healthy gums and keep you smiling confidently for years.
Preventative Measures For Toothache Emergencies
Protecting oral health and maintaining regular oral hygiene habits are key to preventing tooth or gum pain. Proper oral health habits such as:
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.
- Avoid smoking to protect oral health.
- Visit the dentist regularly for the care of affected teeth.
- Attend all routine exams for early detection and treatment of oral problems.
- Take other preventative measures, such as repairing cavities and applying protective sealants if needed.
Conclusion
No one likes dealing with tooth or gum pain but knowing how to recognise it, seeking proper treatment and taking preventative measures can help keep you out of discomfort’s way. If you have been experiencing persistent dental health issues like jaw aches or soreness in your teeth and painful gums, it is best to book an appointment with your dentist right away to get it checked out properly.
Emergency Dentist Adelaide is a perfect choice if you’re suffering from severe pain. We offer comprehensive services to help alleviate your dental discomfort and restore your oral health as quickly as possible.
Don’t suffer in silence – book your consultation for fast, effective relief from tooth or gum pain today! Call us at (08) 7078 8263.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Toothache
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/
What can cause gum pain?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324356
Toothache
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10957-toothache