Toothaches

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is painless in its early stage when it is confined to the outer layer of the tooth, the enamel. When decay progresses into the inner layer of the tooth, it spreads quickly and can reach a living nerve that located in the middle of the tooth. Dental pain from decay is a sign that decay is starting to damage the tooth nerve.

Common symptoms include sensitivity to sweet, cold and hot foods, that develop into a sore and throbbing sensation. The resulting pain can be very intense and worsen at night-time, affecting your sleep.

Decay should be stopped as early as possible to prevent further breakdown of the tooth. Heavily decayed teeth often require extensive treatment to save.

Tooth Abscess or Infection

A tooth abscess is caused by a dead tooth. The abscess – a collection of pus – grows in the bone surrounding the tooth, sometimes without you feeling anything. It can appear like a swollen pimple on your gums which leaks pus and blood, resulting in a bad taste. It can be painful to bite or push these teeth due to the pressure built up from the pus. Bone is destroyed as the abscess and infection spreads. It may spread rapidly into your cheeks and surrounding tissues, potentially causing breathing difficulty – a medical emergency which can be prevented by seeking professional dental attention for your tooth abscess.

Dental Trauma

The surrounding bone and nerve living within your tooth can be injured if you have knocked your teeth, during a fall or experienced facial trauma. Your teeth may also be pushed out of position, or chipped. The success rate of dental trauma treatments relies heavily on how soon dental treatment is commenced. Call us as soon as possible if you have experienced a dental trauma.

Cracked Teeth

Cracked teeth are common after root canal therapy and teeth with large fillings – these teeth are very weak from the loss of natural tooth structure. Cracked teeth can even happen healthy teeth with no fillings, especially if you are stressed and have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth. Like cracks in a wall, cracks in a tooth gets larger over time and your tooth can split apart if left untreated.

You may experience sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and your tooth will hurt when biting. These cracks should be treated early to prevent the tooth from breaking down. Severely cracked teeth are unsavable and need to be extracted.

Gum Infection

Gum infections are associated with deep gum pockets that trap food residue and bacterial debris. Teeth that have gum infections can be free of decay or have no fillings. However, these teeth can appear loose and unstable as the gum infection affects the supporting bone. It can be painful to bite or chew using the affected teeth. The affected area may also appear red and swollen and is tender to touch. Blood and pus may be seen leaking out of the infection.

Other common sources of dental pain

If you are experiencing dental pain and toothache, you should be seen by a dentist to diagnose and treat the underlying problem. Let our dental team help you maintain your oral health. Often, the earlier a dental problem is treated, the simpler it will be. Health problems become complicated if left untreated.

Under the COVID-19 level 3 restrictions by the Australian Dental Association, we are allowed to see patients who are in pain. Call one of our practices to enquire if you are experiencing dental pain or toothaches.