Causes and Treatments of Aching Teeth
Aching teeth can have a variety of causes and effects. Having sore and aching teeth is painful, annoying, and creates a number problems with daily living. This article discusses some of the most common causes and some treatment options for people suffering from sore and aching teeth.
There are many dental problems that can lead to painful teeth and gums. Damage to one or more of the teeth will result in pain. This pain may be very acute and intense, or it can be dull and aching. Chipping, breaking or losing teeth can cause pain and soreness to develop. Very loose teeth or impacted teeth, which become trapped under the gum and grow irregularly, are also a common reason for sore teeth. Even something as simple as having some food stuck in between the teeth can cause pain. Decay and disease are other dental problems that create problems with the mouth. Tooth decay leads to cavities, abscesses and toothaches. When the bacteria responsible for the decay of the tooth reaches the pulp chamber of the tooth or the nerve roots, the terribly painful toothache will develop. Gingivitis, or a dental problem that causes an inflammation of the gums, and Periodontitis, or an inflammation of the tooth sockets can both develop if tooth decay is allow to grow without treatment. These diseases create a whole array of problems with the mouth, including aching and sore gums and teeth.
Even healthy teeth can sometimes have problems with soreness. Many people suffer from sensitive teeth. This sensitivity occurs when the underlying layer of the tooth, or the dentin, becomes exposed along with the roots and nerves. These nerves respond to stimuli like sweets or cold in a way that causes pain. Sensitive and aching teeth can be caused by a number of factors including: teeth grinding, overly hard brushing, tooth decay and gum disease. Sensitivity may also occur from eating disorders and dental caries. Dental caries is the decalcification of the tooth enamel itself. The tooth enamel can also become demineralized when it begins to lose important minerals like calcium due to acid created by oral bacteria or food items. Another disorder that leads to sore and achy teeth is referred to as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. TMJ occurs from an improperly aligned jaw and from clinching the jaw muscles and grinding the teeth, leading to sensitivity problems.
Treating aching and sore teeth can be performed at home, or in severe cases a dentist office. Home remedies for toothaches and sensitivity include: ice, which helps numb the area and reduce pain, chilled and cut up cucumber pieces applied directly to the tooth and 5 grams of fresh peppermint applied to the tooth in a salt and warm water mixture. Peppermint, garlic and real vanilla extract all work as natural painkillers and antiseptics. One of the oldest cures involves a swig of whiskey to dull the pain and fight infection. Over the counter pain medications also work to relieve the pain of toothaches as well as topical ointments such as Ambesol or Orajel.
Severe cases of tooth soreness and aching may require a trip to the dentist’s office. A dentist may perform procedures to extract teeth, drill out decay of teeth, cap or fill damaged teeth or perform a root canal and completely remove the nerve of the tooth. Orthodontists may also help treat tooth pain related to improper bite positions, jaw alignments or teeth positions.
The best preventative measures for avoiding tooth aching and soreness is good dental hygiene and regular dentist’s visits. Avoiding acidic foods and brushing or flossing too hard will also help avoid toothache problems as well as decay.