If you’ve ever experienced tooth pain, you know it’s one of the most uncomfortable sensations in the human experience—and the throbbing pain always seems to pop up at the most inconvenient times.

This debilitating pain is usually the result of pressure or inflammation on the nerves in your gums, and the pain can manifest in a
variety of ways: deep caries (aka cavities), cracked teeth, infections, and root sensitivity, for example.

Preventative and routine care can save you time, money, and of course, pain. If you find yourself in pain, please see your dentist ASAP. Don’t let untreated dental conditions lead to missed work, social engagements, and most importantly, living your best life.

Let’s look into the top four reasons for tooth pain and how to best treat them:

1. Sugar

How it happens: Sugar is digested by bacteria in your mouth, which create acids that slowly demineralize enamel and dentin, a tissue. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and is composed mostly of minerals and hydroxyapatite, the main active ingredient also found in RiseWell’s toothpaste, which can help repair teeth before an actual hole forms. Technically, it’s not the hole that causes tooth pain, because enamel has no nerve endings. The zinging, intolerable pain you feel occurs once bacteria creeps their way into the dentin towards the tissue pulp.

Solution: Shallow cavities can be fixed with routine fillings, while deep cavities require a root canal to clean out the bacteria.

2. A cracked tooth

How it happens: Cracking a tooth is easy—it commonly occurs when you chomp down on hard foods or ice. However, previously restored teeth can also fracture, which is why routine dentist appointments and maintenance are so important. As with enamel deterioration, the pain occurs when bacteria approaches the dentin.

Solution: Dental crowns, aka a cap placed over the tooth, can help hold the tooth together and resolve any discomfort. Depending on how deep the crack goes, a root canal may be necessary.

3. An abscess

How it happens: A dental abscess is a pus-filled bacterial infection that occurs from periodontal disease, untreated decay, or impacted wisdom teeth. Even if the infection is not directly touching the dentin, it can put pressure on nearby nerves, resulting in tooth pain.

Solution: The first step, as usually recommended by your dentist, is taking antibiotics to combat the bacterial growth. But that’s not enough—the abscess will not completely go away unless the infection is completely eradicated. This may mean draining the gum pockets or even extracting the entire tooth to make sure no infection remains.

4. Gum recession

How it happens: Tooth sensitivity usually occurs through gum recession, when the gum tissue surrounding enamel begins wearing away and exposing sensitive layers like dentin and cementum, which covers the root. This, unfortunately, gets worse as we age.

Solution: I recommend a conservative approach—brush regularly with a
remineralizing toothpaste like RiseWell’s. Your dentist can provide gum grafts,
white-colored fillings, or laser diodes to seal exposed dentin tubules.

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About Dr. Derek

He is not only Co-Founder of RiseWell. Dr. Derek Gatta is a partner at Dr Max & Dr Gatta PLLC in Boca Raton, Florida. If you are in the area, he is your go-to dentist!