Why Do My Teeth Hurt?

Every person who’s ever had tooth pain knows the sooner it goes away, the better. Feeling pain in your teeth is not normal and can be a sign of a serious problem that may need to be addressed. If your teeth hurt, you should quickly see Dr. Abbas Ahrabi at Oakton Dental Center in Oakton VA. Dr. Ahrabi can then do a thorough examination and answer the frustrating question you might have, Why do my teeth hurt?  There are various reasons it could be, but these are the most common:

Cavity: A cavity is a hole that forms in your tooth due to decay caused by collected bacteria. Cavities create sensitivity that results in tooth pain. Cavities are simplest for Dr. Ahrabi to treat when they are still small and the tooth can still be saved. This is usually done with a filling made of metal or composite resin.

Damaged or Lost Filling: When fillings fall out or are damaged, the cavity is again exposed, leading to pain. A visit to Dr. Ahrabi can determine if this is the case and how to best treat it.

Teeth Grinding/Clenching/TMJ: You may find yourself bearing down on your teeth during the day, or waking up with a sore jaw in the morning. If so, you may be clenching or grinding your teeth at night. Dr. Ahrabi can offer solutions to help save your teeth from excess wear and tear, as well as painful headaches, toothaches and jaw pain.

Abscessed Tooth: An abscess is a serious infection that forms in your gums when the inside of a tooth is exposed to bacteria. Abscesses are extremely painful and only a dentist will treat it since it involves teeth. Antibiotics can be prescribed which should clear up the infection although other procedures may be necessary to prevent a recurrence in the future. Letting an abscess go untreated lead to a widespread infection that could threaten your health or even your life.

Wisdom Teeth: When your wisdom teeth erupt, it can be very painful and include swelling, and stiffness of the jaw. If there isn’t enough room to grow in, wisdom teeth can bump up against other molars causing pain and infections. This problem is called impaction. Dr. Ahrabi will be able to determine if the wisdom teeth are coming in properly or if they should be removed.

Injuries: Just like your bones, teeth can be injured through contact sports or an accident. This can cause any number of dental problems including a “bruised” or deeply discolored tooth, a broken tooth, or loss of one or more teeth.

Temperature Sensitivity: When the dentin, the underlying layer of a tooth, is exposed due to cracks in the tooth’s enamel or the recession of the gums, your teeth may become sensitive to either hot or cold temperatures, or both.

Orthodontic Treatment: Having braces adjusted can be painful as many of you know or maybe your kids can tell you. This pain is perfectly normal. Using an over-the-counter pain medicine, or if the issue is caused by the braces’ hardware itself, a little ball of dental wax, both sold at your local drugstore, should reduce your discomfort.

Teeth Whitening: Most patients will experience some discomfort or at least sensitivity after a professional teeth-whitening treatment, but the feeling should go away within a day or so. Talk to Dr. Ahrabi if it becomes too painful or problematic.

No matter what the reason, we know that living with tooth pain can be a miserable experience, so quit asking, “Why do my teeth hurt?” and schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahrabi online today, or call (703) 938-3405 to schedule.  He will do his best to get to bottom of the issue and help you find relief, fast.

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