No one wants to experience tooth pain that seems to come out of nowhere – perhaps while sipping on a morning coffee or tucking into dinner. Whether it’s caused by tooth decay, injury, or infection, understanding the triggers is crucial. More importantly, knowing when to contact a local emergency dentist can prevent complications and relieve pain fast.
Tooth pain has a range of potential causes, such as:
Dental cavities are the most common cause of tooth pain. They tend to be caused by inadequate oral hygiene, such as a failure to brush or floss regularly.
In the event of dental trauma or a cavity reaching the tooth’s “pulp chamber”, an abscess can occur. This is an accumulation of pus in the teeth or gums, caused by an infection. In such cases, it’s important to book an emergency dental appointment promptly to prevent the spread of infection and alleviate severe discomfort.
A dental injury – bringing about the cracking or fracturing of one or multiple teeth – is one of the most apparent sources of tooth pain.
If plaque builds up due to poor dental hygiene, this can cause gum disease – such as gingivitis, or the more severe periodontitis – over time. Untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss.
Hot, cold, sweet, or acidic stimuli can cause the sharp pain that most of us recognise as tooth sensitivity. This may occur due to such factors as enamel erosion and/or dental damage.
If you experience pain in the upper back and bottom molar area of your mouth, and your wisdom teeth are still intact, this could indicate the right time to remove them.
If you experience any of the following alongside your tooth pain, we urge you to seek an immediate dental consultation:
You should also seek an urgent appointment with your local dentist if your tooth pain has lasted for more than two days or if you experience sudden, sharp pains that don’t subside.
Having your teeth seen quickly by a professional will enable you to receive an accurate diagnosis and the most suitable treatment.
While you wait for emergency dental care, there are a few things you can try at home to help relieve tooth pain. These include:
If you need to eat between now and your appointment, try to consume only soft foods, such as yoghurt and scrambled eggs, while avoiding chewing on the sore tooth as much as possible.
The best way to prevent sudden tooth pain is to practise the highest standards of oral hygiene.
This means you should be:
You can further reduce the risk of sudden tooth pain — and avoid unexpected emergency dentist visits — by wearing a mouthguard when playing sports or taking part in activities that could cause trauma to the teeth or jaw.
If you’re experiencing tooth pain or sudden swelling – or any other signs of a dental emergency, such as a knocked-out or broken tooth due to trauma – it’s crucial not to wait.
Get in touch with our emergency dental care team at Knighton Dental today so that we can help you as soon as possible. We offer same-day emergency appointments and Saturday appointments for your convenience. Knighton Dental Practice, based in Leicester, has been supporting local families for over 12 years — especially when they’re searching for an emergency dentist near me they can trust.
Written by Dr Amit Patel, BDS University of Birmingham 2006, Diploma in restorative and aesthetic dentistry.GDC Number: 103184
– Lead Dentist at Knighton Dental, with over 15 years’ experience in emergency dental care.
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