A minor toothache can be a pain, but when the discomfort fades, you may move on from the discomfort without much concern. If this becomes a repeat issue, you find yourself scheduling an appointment with a trusted dental team to identify the root cause of this discomfort. But what should you do if you’re experiencing sudden tooth pain? 

In many cases, this pain slowly builds up, allowing you plenty of time to reach out to your dentist for support. When this pain is sudden and unexpected, it can be difficult to know what steps to take to quell discomfort and remedy any oral health problems. In this blog, we’ll explore the most common causes of sudden tooth pain and appropriate next steps to protect your smile. 

The Common Causes of Sudden Tooth Pain

The first step in treating sudden tooth pain is identifying the cause of this discomfort. However, attempting to identify the problem without professional support can be difficult. In some cases, you may not treat the underlying causes and deal with repeat discomfort. If you are experiencing sudden tooth pain, this may be due to one of the following: 

• Severe Tooth Decay: As tooth decay makes its way through your enamel and reaches the inner-most structure of your teeth and infects your dental pulp, you may begin to experience sudden, difficult-to-treat discomfort. 
• Oral Abscesses: These infectious pockets full of bacteria may occur in your tooth or gums, and can lead to significant discomfort, especially as the accompanying bacterial infection continues to spread. 
• Impacted Wisdom Teeth: As your wisdom teeth grow in, you may experience some discomfort. However, if the teeth are impacted and are struggling to get through your gums, you may experience increased discomfort. 
• Sinus Infection: The roots of your upper teeth are located close to your sinuses. If you’re experiencing inflamed sinuses as a result of a sinus infection, this can lead to sudden, unexpected tooth pain. 
• Periodontal Disease: While early-stage gingivitis doesn’t often lead to any discomfort, more advanced periodontal disease and the accompanying infection and gum recession can lead to the exposure of your tooth roots and sensitive nerves. 
• Tooth Damage: Whether the tooth was damaged from using your teeth as tools, a car accident, or an impact injury, this can lead to very sudden discomfort, especially if protected nerves are uncovered. 

In most cases, your dentist will need to perform a comprehensive dental exam to determine what is causing your sudden tooth pain. They may also need to perform dental X-rays to get a more in-depth look at your teeth. With this information, they can begin crafting an appropriate dental treatment plan. 

What Should You Do If You Experience Sudden Pain? 

When you are experiencing sudden tooth pain, you may not know what to do to quell this discomfort and find lasting relief. The first thing you should do when you’re experiencing tooth pain, no matter how minor it may seem, is to call your trusted dental team to schedule an emergency dental appointment. 

After scheduling an appointment with your dental team, there are a few things you can do to manage your discomfort. One of the best options is to treat your discomfort with ice packs and salt water rinses. Ice will help you calm any inflammation you may be experiencing, while salt water rinses help fight bacteria growth. 

Finally, consider taking an over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to help alleviate any discomfort you’re still experiencing. While some people may not be interested in pain medication, this use of medication can help you dull your pain while you wait for your dental appointment to arrive. 

Your Treatment Options

What you can do to treat sudden tooth pain will depend on the cause of the discomfort. If you are experiencing sudden pain, you dentist may recommend one of the following treatment options to provide lasting, long-term relief: 

• Root Canal: If your sudden tooth pain is the result of tooth decay, your dentist may need to perform a root canal, where they remove infected dental pulp, fill your tooth roots, and place a crown on top to prevent future problems. 
• Gum Disease Treatment: For patients with advanced gum disease, your dentist may need to craft a treatment plan to help you improve your gum health. While advanced periodontal disease cannot be reversed, resulting problems can be minimized. 
• Tooth Extraction: If your tooth is too damaged or your wisdom tooth is impacted, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction. Although this can be distressing, it is important to note that your dentist won’t recommend extraction unless it is absolutely necessary. 
• Crowns: When you’re dealing with cracked or chipped teeth, your dentist may need to create a dental crown to place atop your tooth. These prosthetics restore the appearance and function of your tooth, while eliminating long-term discomfort. 

How to Prevent Future Tooth Pain

Once you’ve treated your sudden tooth pain, you want to do everything in your power to prevent this problem from occurring again. There are several great ways to do this, including: 

• Brushing at least twice a day, for two minutes each, and floss regularly.
• Limit your intake of sugary and acidic foods and beverages.
• Drink plenty of water to rinse harmful bacteria off your teeth.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment when playing contact sports.
• Limit or eliminate your use of tobacco products.
• Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings. 
• Talk to your dentist about professional fluoride treatments. 

With your at-home care and support from your dental team, you can trust that you’re taking the appropriate steps to protect your smile for years to come. 

Address Oral Health Problems with Mountain View Dental

Whether you’re dealing with sudden tooth pain, decay, or complications from an existing oral health condition, our team at Mountain View Dental is always here to help. With our comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, and essential treatments, you can trust that we’ll help you eliminate your sudden pain and leave your smile looking and functioning its best. 

If you would like to learn more about our services or are ready to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.