Ouch! 4 Types of Toothaches

At work during your lunch break, you eat beside a co-worker. As you take a sip of hot coffee, you feel a sudden, sharp pain in one of your teeth, and your co-worker expresses concern for you. You tell them it’s just a little toothache. “What kind of toothache?” they ask. You’re confused—aren’t all toothaches the same? In fact, there are several types of toothaches, each of which could point to a more serious problem with your dental health like decay, an infection, or an abscess. To learn about some of the most common kinds of tooth pain and how your emergency dentist in Odessa can treat them, just keep reading!

Tooth Sensitivity

Maybe you only feel uncomfortable when you eat something cold, hot, or sugary. Maybe it comes and goes. Is that really something to be worried about? It depends. Over time, keep track of what triggers your tooth sensitivity and how often happens. If it starts to increase in frequency or intensity, then it’s time for an emergency visit with your dentist. If it remains minor and sporadic, you may be able to wait until your next checkup to talk to your dentist about your sensitivity.

Sharp, Stabbing Pain

Whether your tooth sensitivity has escalated to sharp pain or you’re experiencing throbbing discomfort, it’s hard to ignore this kind of toothache. And you shouldn’t! It could mean that the pulp of your tooth has become infected, or worse, it could indicate that the infection has spread to the jaw. Call your dentist immediately if you feel this intense pain.

Pain in the Back of the Jaw

In some cases, this localized discomfort means that your wisdom teeth may be impacted. In other words, they are pushing on the back teeth, trying to make room for them to erupt. Without intervention, impacted wisdom teeth can cause your teeth to shift out of alignment, an infection, or overcrowding of your teeth. Under these circumstances, your dentist will likely need to extract your wisdom teeth, and the sooner, the better!

Tooth Soreness

If it feels as if your mouth has had a workout and is fatigued, it could indicate a condition called bruxism. Patients with bruxism unconsciously grind or clench their teeth while asleep. As a result, they can struggle with jaw pain and soreness. Also, this condition can wear down the tooth enamel, potentially leading to additional sensitivity and damage. Fortunately, if you have bruxism, your dentist can provide a nightguard, which separates and protects the teeth and eases the jaw muscles.

Ultimately, you should take toothaches seriously because they could be a signal of trouble. In most instances, you need to contact your dentist immediately to catch and treat the problem using the most conservative treatment possible. That way, you can get back to normal life without having to worry about tooth pain!

About the Practice

Boyles General Dentistry offers a wide range of dental services to patients in Odessa and Midland. Father-and-son team Drs. Franklin and Stephen Boyles do not have hygienists on staff because they prefer to be more involved with their patients and personally help them develop healthy habits. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, they are available to patients for dental emergencies, including severe toothaches. You can contact Boyles General Dentistry by clicking here.