Dental Pain: What May Be Causing It And What To Do About It

When you're in pain, you know something is wrong. This is true not only with body pain but with dental pain as well. So, if your teeth hurt, there is a reason for it. Here are three reasons you may be experiencing pain and what you should do to alleviate the pain:

1. Dental Pain with Really Cold or Hot Foods or Drinks

One of the most common types of pain that you could potentially encounter is due to sensitivity to temperature – hot or cold. Usually, this type of pain is not constant and only lingers for a moment. Ultimately, it is a minor problem compared to issues that you could have, and it usually has to do with an individual tooth. The reason that the tooth may be causing pain could be due to a loose filling, tooth decay, or an exposed root.

To help limit your pain, you will want to make sure that you keep all forms of plaque off of your teeth by brushing your teeth twice a a day, as recommended by dental professionals. In addition, you may want to consider finding a fluoride toothpaste that is designed for use with sensitive teeth. You can also limit the beverages and foods that are causing the temperature change in your mouth, and thereby causing the pain. Last but not least, you'll want to schedule an appointment with your dentist. If a filling is loose, tooth decay is present or a root is exposed, it is crucial that you have treatment performed sooner rather than later to remedy the problem and alleviate yourself of the dental pain.

2. Dental Pain Following Treatment

Whenever you go in to the dentist for a dental procedure, you may assume that you'll be completely pain-free when you get back home. However, as with any type of procedure, your mouth needs time to heal from being handled. Luckily, the type of pain that is associated with post-treatment is temporary. It can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks for the pain to subside. It simply depends on the type and extent of dental work that you had done. For example, it is going to take longer for a root canal to heal than it will if you simply had a filling placed. Usually, over-the-counter meds will take care of your discomfort, but your dentist can prescribe something stronger if needed.

3. Dental Pain That Lingers After Eating

If you notice that you are experiencing lingering pain after you finish a meal, then it could be a sign that you have an infection. This sometimes occurs when you allow tooth decay or other dental damage to go untreated. If you continue to leave it alone, the bacteria that is causing the infection could build up so much that is causes an abscess, which could be life-threatening depending on the exact circumstances. Usually, the best course of treatment for this is a root canal, which will remove the dying or already-dead pulp and essentially save the tooth. However, in some cases, the damage is so severe that the tooth cannot be saved. This is why it is important that you visit your dentist at the first signs of a problem in your mouth.

If you're experiencing dental pain, it is best for you to visit your dentist for a complete examination and check-up so that the culprit of the pain can be located and a proper course of treatment can be determined. Look at more info by reading the rest of this blog.