What is My Tooth Pain Telling Me?

What is My Tooth Pain Telling Me? Posted on 8/30/2016 by Sundberg Office Nobody likes to experience pain in their teeth, especially since the cause of the pain is not always easy to determine. However, you should pay attention when you start to experience pain, as it might be your cue that something is wrong. What causes the pain? There can be any number of reasons you experience pain in your tooth. Decay of the tooth (a cavity) can cause some pain as it advances, especially if it reaches the soft, pulpy tissue in the center of the tooth. A tooth which has been damaged-such as cracked or fractured-may cause pain. Other causes can be recession of the gum tissue, dead or dying tissue inside the tooth, or a tooth which has simply become so worn that it needs some repair work done. When is it serious? Some pain is temporary and may not indicate anything serious. If the pain is not regular, passes within a few days, and is not severe, it may not be anything worth worrying about. You’ll want to bring it up the next time you visit your dentist, but you probably don’t need to be concerned. On the other hand, pain that lasts for more than a couple of days, or is severe, may indicate a serious problem. Likewise, pain when you open your mouth, or a tooth that is discharging material into your mouth, or a toothache that comes with a fever are all things that should be addressed with your dentist immediately. While some occasional tooth pain is probably not an issue for concern, chronic pain, or pain that is severe or accompanied by other symptoms, may indicate a serious problem. If you have any doubts as to the severity of your situation, please contact our office quickly. When it comes to your health, it is better to be overly cautious than to ignore what could be a sign of a serious condition.