Causes For Tooth Pains

Do you make sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year to check on your oral health? Learn why dental visits are so important.

Causes For Tooth Pains

17 November 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog


When you experience pain in your teeth or gums, it is your body's way of letting you know that there is something wrong. However, you don't want to get yourself worked up into worst case scenarios because the problem can be something so simple that you can take care of it on your own in a few minutes. However, you do also want to be prepared that it may be something that is going to require a trip to the dentist. Here is a list of some of the common reasons for toothaches and what can be done about them:

You have food stuck between your teeth or at your gumline

You may not think that a piece of food could cause you so much grief. However, if your tooth or gum starts to hurt you, then the first thing you should try to determine is whether or not there is something stuck that's causing it to hurt. Try flossing the area around the tooth. If it still hurts, go in the bathroom with a bright light and look all around the tooth and gum.

If you see something, get it out. If you see redness on your gum and maybe even a little bump right under the gum line, then there is something there. Work on removing it with floss. If floss won't work, you can put peroxide in your mouth right there and try to get it to bubble out that way. If this doesn't work, the dentist may need to remove it for you.

You have a cavity

If you have a cavity that has become quite large, then it can be painful. Look in the mirror with good lighting and see if you can spot a hole or a darker area on your tooth. If you see one, then make an appointment to go to the dentist and they will more than likely fill it, unless it is so bad it requires a different form of treatment, such as a root canal and a dental crown.

You have an abscessed tooth

If you have an abscessed tooth, then it can be extremely painful. It can even cause the whole side of your mouth to hurt so bad that it is hard to talk and eat. An abscessed tooth can cause the gum around it to look red and swollen. You may even see a bump or puss near the tooth. You can begin taking care of it yourself by swishing half water and half peroxide where the abscessed tooth is. However, you need to go in to see the dentist right away. You will need to be put on a course of antibiotics.