Any type of body pain can be irritating. And as you experience a throbbing ache, you may find it hard to carry out everyday responsibilities. A toothache is a type of pain that can mess up your day. It can be frustrating and unpleasant. You may experience a dull or sharp pain or teeth sensitivity whenever you eat something cold or hot. Plus, toothaches can have severe consequences for your health. If you want to avoid experiencing toothaches, visit a Fort Myers, FL dentist regularly so that any dental issues are caught and treated early. 

Common Cause of Toothaches

Toothaches can be caused by several contributing factors that might create symptoms, such as dental pain. The following are common causes of toothaches:

  • Tooth decay. Tooth decay happens when bacteria erode your tooth’s enamel, exposing the nerve. Tooth pain usually results from this issue. 
  • Gum disease. This condition occurs when bacteria live below and along your gum line. 
  • Injury. You can experience toothache because of a small chip or a big tooth break. 
  • Impaction. Usually, teeth become impacted beneath your gums’ surface. This can usually happen in molars like wisdom teeth. 

How to Resolve Toothaches

To treat your toothache, you must visit your dentist first. Often, the dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth and may take an X-ray. If they find out that you have tooth decay, they can fill the decayed part of your tooth with a filling. If you have serious tooth decay, your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction or root canal. The dentist will decide the best treatment option for you according to the severity of the decay and whether or not the tooth is infected. 

If your tooth pain is caused by gum disease, you may have to undergo a procedure called root planing and scaling. Then, you will be administered topical or oral antibiotics to kill the pain-causing bacteria. If your tooth has a crack, chip, or break, your dentist may address it with a filling or a dental crown meant to prevent the entry of bacteria into the tooth.

If the x-rays show that an impacted tooth is causing your dental pain, your dentist may recommend an extraction to ensure your other teeth are not damaged or misaligned. Also, impacted teeth can become infected.

Although there are many ways to treat a toothache, it is often best to prevent it from happening. Good oral hygiene practices can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Also, you should visit your dentist at least twice every year to prevent tooth decay.