Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Chronic Toothache

Tooth pain is usually more than just a nuisance. In fact, long-lasting tooth pain often means something is wrong with your oral health. Unfortunately, many tooth problems worsen the longer you avoid treatment. 

Our team of expert dentists at Hendricks Dental Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, can promptly address your toothache. We use the latest technology in dentistry to find the cause of your tooth pain and treat it before the issue becomes more complex. 

Some people ignore toothaches because they feel anxious about going to the dentist or assume the issue will resolve on its own. However, you shouldn’t ignore a toothache because of the possible underlying problems causing it. 

What causes toothache?

Chronic toothache usually originates in the nerve of the affected tooth. The nerves inside your teeth are highly sensitive to pain and other sensations like temperature. Your tooth pain might be due to:

Tooth decay

Tooth decay is the number one reason for chronic toothaches. When you ignore a toothache due to tooth decay, the decay can worsen and become a dental abscess, which requires emergency treatment. In very rare cases, the infection from a dental abscess can spread beyond your mouth into your brain. 

Impacted tooth

An impacted tooth is a tooth that hasn’t erupted through the gums. This is common with wisdom teeth. 

Teeth grinding or breakage

Damage from grinding or trauma can cause painful teeth. These often require treatment like a crown or dental bonding.

Gum infection

Sometimes, gum disease causes a toothache. Our team can treat gum disease at any stage. 

Minor causes of toothache

In the best-case scenario, tooth pain or discomfort is caused by something minor, like a piece of popcorn stuck in your teeth.  

Referred tooth pain

Referred tooth pain manifests in teeth but comes from somewhere else. Causes include sinusitis (sinus inflammation) and heart problems. 

Diagnosing your toothache

Hendricks Dental Specialists performs a diagnostic exam to discover the cause of your chronic toothache. We ask about your symptoms and what the pain feels like. Your tooth pain might be constant and dull or sharp and throbbing. 

Our team also searches for visible symptoms like gum inflammation. Diagnosing tooth pain might require a digital X-ray of the tooth and jawbone. An X-ray helps us observe the extent of damage from decay or breakage. 

What comes next

After determining the cause of your tooth pain, we decide how to treat the underlying issue. If the cause is minor, like something stuck between your teeth, we remove the object with floss. 

More intensive treatment for your toothache might involve:

• Root canal therapy
• Gum therapy
• Dental inlays or onlays
• A dental crown 
• Pain relievers 
• Fillings
• Tooth extraction

Our team supports you with preventive recommendations after treatment. We might suggest more frequent brushing, a night guard, or professional cleanings to avoid future toothaches. 

Don’t wait to book an appointment for your toothache. Call Hendricks Dental Specialists or schedule online today.