Excruciating tooth pain, sharp jaw discomfort, dull ache in the gums – each is a sign of a dental problem or something even more serious. Unfortunately, many people put off a call to the dentist – a potentially risky move, as dental problems may be more advanced than you think.
“As we age, we may feel less pain in our teeth because the nerves inside shrink and dentin – a porous material under tooth enamel – builds up. So something can fester for a long time and develop into a larger, more complex problem,” says Dr. Lisa Thompson, a specialist in geriatric dentistry at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Here’s more information on what causes tooth pain, how to identify it, and when to call your dentist or even 911.
Tooth pain
Tooth pain can be caused by several problems. Perhaps the most common is a cavity, a small hole in the tooth. Plaque – a sticky mixture of food particles and bacteria covering the outer layer of a tooth, the enamel – creates chemicals that break down the enamel. The deeper the cavity, the more likely the nerve of the tooth will be exposed, leading to sharp pain and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. These symptoms can also come from a cracked tooth or a cracked or loose filling, which can expose the nerve.
Tooth pain can also be due to trauma, such as accidentally biting a fork. This can bruise the ligament that holds your tooth in your jaw, causing an initially sharp then dull pain in the tooth.
If you feel tooth pressure when you bite food, feel sinus pressure without nasal congestion, or have a bad (sour) taste in your mouth, a cavity or cracked tooth may have caused a painful infection at the root. of the tooth, creating a small pocket of pus called an abscess.
Gum pain
Gum pain tends to be an aching pain rather than a sharp pain. There are many potential causes. It can be as simple as having sensitive gums, brushing your teeth too vigorously, or having irritation caused by a piece of food (like a piece of popcorn) stuck in your teeth or in the gap between your gums and teeth.
Gum pain can also come from a cut if something stung you (like a corn chip), irritation from toothpaste containing sodium laurel sulfate, or canker sores (aphthous ulcers).
Gum pain can also be caused by dentures or partial dentures that fit poorly or are not cleaned regularly. “You might see red bumps on the irritated area or feel a burning sensation from a fungal infection,” says Dr. Thompson.
Another possibility: The buildup of plaque at the bottom of the teeth irritates the gums and causes gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease marked by swollen and bleeding gums. Untreated gingivitis can progress below the gum line (becoming periodontal disease). This can destroy the ligament that holds the tooth in place as well as the bone, leading to gum pain, abscesses and tooth loss. Signs of an abscess caused by gum disease include a pus bump on the gum or swelling on the face.
Jaw pain
Jaw pain can be sudden and sharp, or chronic tenderness that gradually increases over time.
Dull, chronic jaw pain usually stems from a problem in the temporomandibular joint, where the jaw bone meets the skull on either side of the head. Disorders related to this joint are called temporomandibular disorders, or TMDs.
“You can get TMD from an injury such as a joint dislocation or problems related to muscles, stress, arthritis, and even behaviors you aren’t even aware of. Perhaps whether you grind your teeth at night, chew gum, or bite a pen,” says Dr. Thompson.
Be especially alert for pain that suddenly affects your neck and lower jaw. This could be a form of pain called angina caused by narrowing of the heart’s arteries – or it could even be a symptom of a heart attack. Jaw pain of cardiac origin can occur without the more common heart attack symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
What you should do
Sudden pain in the neck and lower jaw can signal an emergency. Call 911, especially if you have known heart problems.
All other tooth, gum and jaw pain should trigger a call to your dentist – as soon as possible if you suspect a filling or cracked tooth, gum disease or abscess.
“Bacteria from the abscess can enter the bloodstream and travel to other areas of your body, such as your brain or heart. This can be life-threatening. If your dentist can’t see you right away, go to the emergency room, “although there’s not much they can do except give you antibiotics until you can see a dentist,” says Dr. Thompson. “And if you think your diet. , your behavior or brushing habits may be at fault the cause of pain, don’t hesitate to experiment: get a soft toothbrush, use a Waterpik, change your toothpaste. And continue to brush and floss your teeth every day.”
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