Painful Teeth And Gums And What They Might Mean

Some oral discomfort might feel relatively minor, but you should always have it checked by your dentist

Most of us probably sail along in our daily lives, giving little thought to our teeth and gums other than the daily brushing, and hopefully, flossing too. That is, until we suddenly feel pain. It can sometimes come as a surprise that something so small as a tooth can cause so much pain but a bad toothache can be very painful indeed and can cause us a lot of distress until it has been treated.

Not all dental pain is that severe though. It can be very mild in some cases but this doesn’t mean that you should ignore it, perhaps using painkillers to mask the pain. Below, we will take a look at what might be causing some types of dental pain and why you should see a Blue Sky dentist as soon as possible to have it examined.

Sharp sudden pain

If you experience a sudden, and often sharp, pain when you do something such as biting on food, it may well be that you have a tooth that has fractured or cracked badly. When not being used, you may not notice it, but the pressure applied when biting can cause the crack to move, causing this sudden and often painful discomfort.

Persistent dull pain

This is a very common symptom of the classic toothache which is caused by tooth decay. Unlike the above, you may not experience any sudden and sharp discomfort but you are unlikely to get any respite from this type of pain. It doesn’t go away when you sleep either and anyone with this may well experience a lack of sleep because of it too.

Extreme throbbing pain

Whilst this could be caused by tooth decay, it could also be due to the presence of a tooth abscess. If you experience this type of pain, you should contact us for an emergency appointment as soon as you can. This is especially true if you notice any facial swelling.

Sensitivity to hot or cold foods

This could be caused by a cracked tooth but equally may be due to general enamel erosion of the teeth. This could be caused by teeth grinding, an incorrect bite or even a diet high in acidic foods and drinks which erodes the enamel of the teeth. Whilst some of the discomfort can be avoided or minimised by eating and drinking foods at a moderate temperature, the damage caused will also leave your teeth less well protected and decay can follow.

Sore or painful gums

Whilst this type of discomfort could be caused by a simple infection of the gum that might go away on its own, there is also a good chance that you might be suffering from gingivitis or even periodontitis, both forms of gum disease. This can result in a number of unpleasant side effects and, especially as it becomes more advanced, can even result in tooth loss.

What to do if you experience pain or discomfort

Whilst it might be the reaction of anyone experiencing toothache or similar to search online for remedies, this is essentially nothing more than wishful thinking, and your first port of call should be to contact Blue Sky Dental to get advice. In most cases, this will mean having the teeth (and gums) examined by one of our dental team and, where necessary, receiving the appropriate treatment.

Whilst it is possible that you might find ways to minimise or mask the discomfort, you really shouldn’t do so other than as a way of managing the pain until you can see a dentist.

Delaying seeking treatment for even a minor toothache is simply storing up trouble for the future. A small cavity in the tooth will not stay small if left and will become bigger over time. Not only will this result in the need for a larger filling, or even a crown, but there is every chance that the level of pain will increase as the decay advances. This applies to all dental problems. They will almost never improve on their own and delaying having the problem examined and treated means that the problem will almost certainly become worse over time and is almost certain to result in more extensive and invasive treatment being needed.

If you experience painful teeth or gums, it means that something is wrong and you shouldn’t delay or ignore, in the hope that it will go away. It most likely won’t. Contacting us when you first notice it will not only mean that you won’t have to put up with the pain for so long, but also that you are likely to need more minor treatment than if you leave it for longer. We are always happy to offer advice and to arrange a prompt appointment where necessary if you call our Chelmsford dental clinic on 01245 211070. Please don’t delay, call us to get the help you need.