Why Do My Teeth Hurt?

Pain anywhere in the body is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be checked out. Tooth pain can be difficult to deal with, especially when you don’t know why. If your teeth hurt, it is always a good idea to quickly see your dentist. They can then do a thorough examination and answer the frustrating question you probably have, “Why do my teeth hurt?”  There can be a number of reasons, but your Lee Bonfiglio Veseley & Associates dentist, of Annapolis, MD,  wants to inform you about the most commonly diagnosed.

Cavity Causing Tooth Pain

A cavity is simply a spot where decay has created a hole in your tooth enamel due to bacteria eating away at plaque on your teeth. They can create sensitivity that develops into actual tooth pain. Cavities are easiest to manage when they are still small and the tooth can be saved. If you have had a filling in the past, you may be dealing with sensitivity due to a damaged or lost filling. An examination by your dentist can determine what treatment options are necessary to eliminate the pain.

Teeth Grinding/Clenching/TMJ

You may find yourself bearing down on your teeth during the day, or wake up in the morning with a sore jaw. Both are good indicators you are clenching or grinding your teeth at night as you sleep. Your dentist can offer solutions to help protect your teeth from excess wear and tear, as well as prevent you from suffering painful headaches, toothaches and jaw pain.

Abscessed Tooth

A tooth abscess forms when there is an infection at the tooth’s roots. They are extremely painful and only antibiotics and dental treatment can resolve the issue permanently. Failure to properly treat it can lead to a widespread infection.

Wisdom Teeth Coming In

When your wisdom teeth begin to erupt, they can cause a great deal of discomfort, swelling, and jaw stiffness. Your dentist can determine if these teeth are coming in properly or if they will need to be removed.

Injury

Injury caused by such things as contact sports or an accident can cause any number of problems including a “bruised” or deep discoloring of the tooth, a broken tooth, or total loss of one or more teeth.

Temperature Sensitivity

When the underlying layer of the tooth, called the dentin, is exposed due to cracks in the enamel or the recession of the gums, your teeth may become sensitive to either hot or cold temperatures, or both.

Orthodontic Treatment

When you have your braces adjusted, you are likely to experience some level of discomfort as your teeth shift. This is normal and using an over-the-counter pain medicine, or if the issue is caused by the hardware itself, a little ball of dental wax to dull the sharp metal edges should help.

Teeth Whitening

Most people will feel some discomfort after a professional teeth-whitening treatment, but the feeling should resolve itself within a day. Talk to your dentist if it is too painful or problematic.

Relieve Tooth Pain in Annapolis, MD

No matter what the reason, we know tooth pain can be miserable to live with, so stop asking, “Why do my teeth hurt?” and schedule a virtual consultation online with your LBV dentist today, or call our scheduling specialist at (410) 989-8298. Our skilled and compassionate dentists can identify the underlying problem quickly and help you find relief.