Common Causes of Toothaches

Woman touching her cheek and grimacing due to tooth pain.

Toothache got you down? Some toothaches feel like a minor, uncomfortable sensation that pops up every now and then. Other toothaches are so painful, they’re all you can think about until you get some emergency dental care. Just like there’s a range in how severe a toothache is, there’s also a variety of things that can be behind the tooth pain. Here are some of the most common causes of toothaches.

Bad Cavity

Sometimes you may not see or feel that you have a cavity. Other times, the decay is serious enough that the hole reaches further into your tooth where the nerves are and causes you pain. The longer you leave the cavity untreated the worse that pain can become!

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

When a crack is severe, it can reach down far enough to damage the nerve in a tooth. Same with a chip. There are chips that are minor and only on your enamel, or outer part of your teeth, but there are also big chips that get into the sensitive, inner part of a tooth. Both of these can lead to a toothache.

Tooth Infection

It’s not a pretty thing to imagine but if you have a bacterial infection, it can cause a build-up of pus inside your teeth or gums. This abscess is another common cause of toothaches. Also, if you have a wisdom tooth that’s not growing properly and an infection develops, it can also be a source of pain.

Taking Care of Tooth Pain in Columbia

If you’re currently experiencing a toothache, contact us at Bethea Family Dentistry. We offer comprehensive family dental care so we’re confident that our expert team can pinpoint what’s causing your tooth pain and present a treatment plan that gets your smile back to its best condition. Call or email us today for an appointment!

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