While it’s never fun to be in pain, your teeth are certainly one of the most aggravating and inconvenient areas of your body to experience pain and discomfort. Thankfully, there are plenty of treatment options and methods, so you don’t have to suffer!
We’re here to help you figure out the cause of your tooth pain and how to best solve it:
Why Do My Teeth Hurt?
If your teeth are aching and causing you pain, here are some of the reasons why this may be happening:
- Sensitive teeth – If the enamel on your teeth has worn down, you may have exposed nerves that become sensitive, especially to heat and cold that can cause discomfort and pain.
- Cavity – Also known as tooth decay, cavities can cause pain to the area and surrounding teeth, especially if it has progressed to an infection.
- Cracked tooth – While it may sound obvious that a broken tooth or crown would cause pain, sometimes even the slightest crack that is almost impossible to see can cause a great deal of aggravation.
- Sinus infection – One symptom of a sinus infection is pain in your teeth or jaw. As your sinuses become filled with pressure and inflamed, they can compress your teeth’s nerve endings, causing pain.
- Grinding and clenching – Also known as bruxism, your aching teeth may be caused by your habit of clenching and grinding your teeth, most likely while you sleep at night.
- TMJ – Also known as a temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJ refers to a condition of the temporomandibular joint located in your jaw that helps your mouth open and close. When this joint becomes inflamed, strained, or injured, pain can radiate throughout your jaw to your ears, head, face, and even teeth.
How To Help My Teeth Pain
Naturally, you want to make the tooth pain stop! Here are some easy ways that may help give you some relief, depending on the cause for your tooth pain:
- Visit your dentist – If your pain is caused by an ailment to your teeth or gums, it’s best to quickly make your way to the dentist before the problem worsens. There, a dentist can fix your cavity, cracked tooth, or other teeth problem and recommend further treatment options to prevent pain from returning.
- Saltwater – A simple saltwater rinse can sometimes do the trick as it works as a disinfectant and can help reduce inflammation.
- Cold compress – Like other injuries, a cold compress to the area can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
- Eat soft foods – If your toothache is caused by TMJ or jaw pain, sticking with soft foods can help give your jaw a break from the extra work of chewing hard foods and time to heal.
- The Preventive Oral Device® – Also known as The POD®, this mouthguard, worn at night, can help stop the destructive forces of bruxism from hurting your teeth and jaw joints. This revolutionary, custom-made device helps treat TMJ and its symptoms such as tooth pain, jaw pain, jaw clicking, and headaches by preventing you from clenching and grinding your teeth at night. This simple addition to your nighttime routine will make a big difference in healing your daily pain caused by TMJ.
Seek Treatment From a TMJ Specialist on Long Island
Dr. Scott Simonetti, a TMJ disorder specialist, is here to help diagnose and put an end to your pain and discomfort caused by a TMJ disorder. Visit our website or give us a call at (631) 277-4848 to learn more about our POD® night guard treatment and how we can help you.