TOOTH PAIN
The most common reason, for a visit to the dentist, is pain in your teeth which can be acute (short duration high intensity) or chronic (long duration, dull pain) in nature.
What causes tooth pain?
- Cavity /Decayed tooth: Tooth decay starts from the outermost layer of the tooth called enamel and then proceeds to inner layer called dentin and reaches the soft part inside the tooth called pulp. The deep cavity can cause irritation of the small any nerve endings inside the pulp leading to pain. If the pain is ignored at this stage, the cavity and bacteria can further spread to the end of the tooth roots leading to infection (abscess) and swelling of jaw and face
- Fractured tooth: Tooth fracture can be a result of any trauma to the face such as accident or fall. It can lead to the exposure of the pulp inside the tooth and tooth pain.
- Tooth brush abrasion: Improper brushing technique or using very hard bristle toothbrush can lead to wearing of the enamel and dentin exposing the pulp and the result is tooth pain.
- Clenching habit: Para-functional habits such as bruxism (subconsciously grinding the teeth) can lead to attrition of enamel, dentin leading to pulp exposure and pain.