Everyone hates having a nagging or throbbing toothache. The pain of toothaches can be excruciating and make it impossible to function effectively at home, school or work. 

There are four main types of tooth pain, depending on the origin and cause. These include:

• A dull, persistent ache 
• An acute, penetrating tooth pain
• Throbbing tooth pain
• Teeth sensitivity

Each of these types of tooth pain can be accompanied by other symptoms that add to your misery. These symptoms include:

• Gum swelling
• Headaches
• Chills
• Fever
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Keeping track of the type of tooth pain you’re experiencing and being able to describe the pain and other symptoms to your dentist can help them identify the cause of the toothache pain quickly. For instance, chills and fever usually indicate an infection in your teeth or gums, and bad breath is most likely caused by severe decay or a piece of food that’s gotten stuck somewhere between the teeth. 

Causes and Treatments for Tooth Pain

These are the most common causes of tooth pain and their corresponding treatments. Our dentists in Chiang Mai at GrandDent Dental Clinic can effectively treat all of these problems. If you’re experiencing any of them, please contact us for an appointment. 

Cavities

Toothaches can be caused by cavities that have reached the nerves and are exposing them to the air and irritating them. Cavities are the reason for most toothaches, as they can be unnoticed until they reach the nerves. You can treat the pain temporarily with a warm saltwater rinse and over-the-counter pain medications until your dentist can treat the cavity. They do this by removing any remaining decayed portions of the tooth and filling the cavity with dental filling material. 

If the cavity is on the biting surface of a rear molar, dental inlays and onlays can be used to cover, strengthen, and insulate the tooth.   

Cracked Tooth

The methods of treating cracked teeth depend on the size of the crack and the damage caused. Small cracks may be treated with dental bonding material. Cracks that threaten the tooth are treated by installing a dental crown to cover the crack and strengthen the tooth. If the crack has reached the roots, a root canal treatment can remove the infected pulp, and then a crown can be installed. If the crack severely damages the tooth, it may need to be extracted and replaced with a tooth implant or a fixed bridge. 

Abscessed Tooth

An abscess is a serious infection requiring immediate medical attention. It’s usually accompanied by swelling and pain. The abscess is typically drained, and root canal treatment is performed. This removes the infected pulp from the tooth and replaces it with medicine and dental material. Once the tooth is stable, it can be covered by a crown. 

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious infection of the soft tissue of the gums that requires prompt treatment to prevent the loss of gum tissue and teeth. Treatment of gum disease depends on the progress of the disease and how much damage it’s caused to the gum tissue and teeth. Generally, one of the first steps is to undergo a scaling and root planing treatment. This deep dental cleaning removes tartar and bacteria from your gums and teeth and smooths the roots of your teeth. This can be accompanied by antibiotics taken orally, applied as a mouth rinse, or administered topically as a gel applied to your gums. 

The dentist may also choose to include guided tissue regeneration. This technique helps promote the growth of new bone and tissue in areas lost due to gum disease. The procedure involves placing a barrier membrane on the gums that allows new, desirable tissue to form while preventing unwanted tissue growth.  

Damage to a Dental Restoration (Crowns or Fillings)

Damage to a dental restoration is typically treated by removing the damaged restoration entirely, assessing whether the damage caused any trauma to the underlying tooth, repairing any possible damage to the tooth, and then reapplying the dental restoration. The dentist will often strengthen the previous restoration. For example, the dentist may provide an inlay or a crown to strengthen a broken or cracked filling.   

Tooth Grinding or Clenching (Bruxism)

Tooth grinding is treated by creating a custom mouth guard that’s also referred to as a dental splint or a bite splint. They are made from hard or soft acrylic, fit over the upper and lower teeth, and are worn at night to protect your teeth from grinding damage while you sleep.  

If your teeth have already suffered significant damage from grinding, dentists can reshape the biting surfaces or use crowns to repair the damage. 

Visit GrandDent Dental Clinic

If you have occasional or ongoing toothache, make an appointment to see one of our experienced dentists at GrandDent Dental Clinic. Our dental clinic in Chiang Mai can provide welcome relief from tooth pain. Make your appointment today.