Toothaches are so common that most people will experience at least one throughout their lifetime. Along with the wide variety of people that get toothaches, there also a wide variety of potential causes for a toothache. Each person’s toothache can be vastly different from the next person’s. To give you relief from your aching tooth, your dentist will first have to discover the cause of your toothache. The treatment will depend on whatever is causing the pain, as different causes have different treatments.

Tooth Decay

The hard outer shell of your teeth, the enamel, is the main line of defense for your teeth against things like food particles and harmful oral bacteria. Tooth sensitivity is an early warning sign that the enamel has grown weak or compromised. If tooth decay gets past the enamel into the deeper layers of the tooth, it can cause a painful infection and inflammation. If the inner tissue of the tooth becomes inflamed, it can feel quite painful.

Cracks or Other Unseen Damage

You may not always realize when damage is caused to your tooth. For instance, grinding your teeth constantly (known as bruxism) or have a bad habit of chewing ice, then a tooth might sustain tiny cracks in the surface. Over time, the surface damage can cause increasing tooth pain, especially as you bite and chew. Cracks in the surface of the teeth can also give a head start to nefarious bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Damage in your teeth can grow over time and expose the nerves inside to elements causing pain.

Gum Disease

As gum disease is allowed to progress without treatment, your gum tissues can begin to recede from your teeth. As the tissues pull back, the roots of your teeth can become exposed, making your teeth sensitive along the gum line. As gum disease progresses, it can create more damage, more pain, and eventually lead to tooth loss.

Toothaches should not be ignored

If you have a toothache, it should be treated as soon as possible. To schedule a consultation, call Grinnell Street Dental at (307) 672-7567. Located in Sheridan, WY, we also proudly serve the residents of Gillette, Billings, Miles City, and all surrounding communities.