Toothaches might seem like common occurrences, but seldom are we immediately aware of what causes our teeth to ache. Some patients may experience sensitive gums, for instance, while others could have recently suffered trauma as a result of an accident or sporting activity – leading to the toothache. But one underlying cause that we often help our patients with at Carrum Downs Dental Care is nerve pain. Interestingly enough, it’s what causes plenty of our patients to want to come in for a check-up, even if they may not always realise that it’s their nerves that are causing them pain. Sometimes, the sensitivity that some of our patients get from consuming hot or cold foods is related to exposed tooth nerves. With this article, we hope you’ll be better able to understand and identify tooth nerve pain, so you’ll know right away to give our clinic a call if you need treatment for the pain!
What Causes Tooth Nerve Pain, and How is It Treated?
That stabbing or sharp sensation of pain that a person sometimes feels in their teeth is often related to nerve pain, caused by an exposed nerve. This can happen if the outer enamel layer of a person’s tooth has become damaged or exposed due to injury. Understandably, leaving this exposed nerve untreated will result in unwanted difficulty consuming or enjoying certain foods – especially if they are hot or cold.
However, nerve pain in a person’s teeth can also be caused by a less-common event known as necrosis. What happens here is that a dying nerve within a tooth could be causing a build-up of bacteria and white blood cells to exert pressure on the nerve endings around your tooth. This infection process can also come with a number of unpleasant side-effects, including:
- Swelling,
- Unpleasant tastes,
- Unpleasant odours, and
- Discoloration of the affected area.
If you can’t immediately schedule a visit to our clinic to receive treatment, we recommend proceeding with your regular dental hygiene routine, but with special attention taken in using a soft-bristled toothbrush. It also helps to completely avoid consuming hot or cold food for the time being. There is simply no sense in prolonging the pain by putting off your next visit to see our dentists.
Carrum Downs Dental Care is Always Ready to Help You Treat Nerve Pain
Teeth can often heal themselves in the event of mild or non-severe inflammation. However, more serious conditions may require root canal procedures to be done. Regardless, you should always call our friendly staff on 03 9783 0600 to consult with us if you are experiencing nerve pain in your teeth.