The Top Toothache Causes That You Should Be Aware Of

Would you like to know about the top toothache causes? Are you in pain, and you are looking for a dentist in New York? Read on to learn more.

You may be wondering, "Will my toothache go away on its own? Or is it due to a serious issue that needs to be addressed right away?"

Chances are, you already know the answer to the first question. And if your toothache isn't getting any better, then that tells you the answer to your second question. Namely, get yourself to a dentist in New York right away.

The truth is, there are a plethora of toothache causes that only your dentist can diagnose. And most of these require treatment as soon as possible or they will get worse. 

To illustrate this, we've written you this guide. In it, we list the most common issues that could be causing your toothache. You'll also learn what can happen if you don't get the treatment you need.



Read on to discover more.

1. Cavities

The most common cause of toothaches by far is tooth decay, also known as cavities. These are generally caused by insufficient oral hygiene practices. Consuming a lot of sugary foods, alcohol, and tobacco will contribute to cavities as well.

Advanced tooth decay gets closer and closer to the tooth's nerve. As it does, the tooth becomes sensitive to almost every type of stimuli (heat, cold, pressure).

But you won't notice cavities when they first form. This is why it's so important to see your dentist every 6 months. Then, they can detect cavities before the pain/decay becomes extreme.



Your dentist in New York, NY treats the cavities by drilling out the decayed areas from the tooth and then filling it.

2. Pulpitis

Pulpitis is an extreme form of tooth decay. It occurs when the decay reaches the pulpy tissue in the center of your tooth.

This sensitive area, immediately surrounding your tooth nerve, becomes inflamed, causing extreme pain and sensitivity.

As with cavities, the pain is made worse by stimuli, like hot and cold temperatures.

Pulpitis can also happen after tooth trauma or surgery. Usually, treatment for pulpitis requires more than just a filling.



The dentist will most likely need to perform a root canal. In this procedure, the dentist removes the dead or dying nerve, cleans out any infection, and then fills the tooth.

3. Hypersensitivity

Often, you can have a toothache that feels like a cavity but isn't. For instance, the tooth or teeth will hurt when they come in contact with sugar, heat, or cold.

This might occur when your enamel is worn down or your gums have receded a lot. When this happens, the dentin underneath the enamel is no longer protected and becomes hypersensitive to stimuli.

Fortunately, this is easily treated. You can purchase desensitizing toothpaste over the counter, for example.



Also, your dentist can apply a powerful desensitizer that achieves the same thing. These treatments replenish the lost minerals in your dentin so that your teeth aren't as sensitive.

4. Gum Disease

Gum disease causes the inflammation, bleeding, and receding of your gums. This is caused by insufficient oral hygiene practices.



As mentioned, receding gums lead to hypersensitive teeth. In addition, the inflammation and degradation of your gums cause oral pain all on their own. Furthermore, if left untreated, this will lead to severe tooth decay, pulpitis, infections, tooth loss, and other painful problems.

5. Abscesses

An abscess is an infection that has reached the deep tissues within your tooth. You can see for yourself the swelling and redness/darkness of your gums in the abscessed area. You will also feel significant pain when you touch the tooth and, possibly, a constant, throbbing pain.



This can happen from trauma or severely advanced cavities. If it's possible to save the tooth, it will require a root canal. But if the tooth cannot be saved, it will have to be extracted.

6. Tooth Injury

An injury to your tooth can:

• Cause pulpitis
• Cause an abscess
• Crack or chip your tooth
• Knock a filling loose

All of these conditions are quite painful but also treatable. Besides the conditions we've already discussed, cracked teeth can be capped to protect them.



In many cases, the chipped part of a tooth can be reattached (and probably capped). Alternatively, veneers or crowns can replace the missing sections of the tooth.

7. Damaged Filling

Aside from injuries, fillings may sometimes fall for other reasons, too. Either new tooth decay loosens them or they simply fail on their own. If no new decay is present, it's possible that the cavity can be filled again without any more drilling.

8. Grinding Teeth

Many people grind their teeth in their sleep or during stress due to a condition known as bruxism. This will bruise your gums/tooth nerves and wear down your enamel, causing pain.

9. Bite Misalignment

A misaligned bite can cause oral pain. Although, this pain is usually located near the jaw, not the teeth. This is typically corrected by teeth straightening methods such as braces and Invisalign.

10. Wisdom Teeth

Lastly, most people get their wisdom teeth removed because there's insufficient room for them to grow. Adults who don't have theirs removed may experience painful complications as these teeth attempt to shove their way into an overcrowded mouth.

See a Dentist in New York to Determine Your Toothache Causes

Don't forget the important warnings in this guide. And if you have a toothache, make an appointment with a dentist in New York right now. Lastly, if you know someone who's avoiding the dentist, please share this information about toothache causes with them.



If you're looking for the best dentist in 10023, your search is over. Contact Riverside Dental Care today to request an appointment.