How to Deal with Minor and Major Tooth Pain

Tooth pain in any form is no laughing matter. 

Even slight tooth pain can cause poor sleep, difficulty chewing and anxiety. Major tooth pain not only can be excruciating but also is often a sign of infection, tooth abscess or fracture. Left untreated, tooth pain can quickly turn into a dental emergency. 

It’s important to know how to deal with both minor and major tooth pain so that you can live a healthy and pain-free life.

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How To Identify Minor Tooth Pain and Its Causes

Minor discomfort, aches or twinges around your tooth can be an early stage of tooth pain. In this case, you might be noticing the first signs of a cavity or the very beginning of an infection.

If you’re feeling momentary sensitivity to hot or cold foods, this generally doesn’t signal a serious problem. Minor decay, a loose filling or minor gum recession can cause temperature sensitivity. 

Habitual teeth grinding can also cause a dull, minor toothache.

In the best cases, minor tooth discomfort can simply mean a piece of food debris is stuck between your teeth and you just need a good brushing and flossing session.

How To Treat Minor Tooth Pain

If brushing with a soft brush and sensitive toothpaste, rinsing or flossing doesn’t alleviate your tooth discomfort, chances are there’s more than just something stuck in between your teeth. 

Make an appointment with your dentist to get to the root of the problem. In the meantime, use over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for temporary relief. 

Remember: Your teeth don’t hurt without an underlying reason. Your body is trying to tell you something.

[Related: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Root Canal?]

How To Identify Major Tooth Pain and Its Causes

You’ll know pretty quickly whether your tooth pain is minor or major. Major tooth pain can come in the form of ongoing, persistent aches and pains that ebb and flow in their severity. It can also manifest as throbbing pain or sharp, stabbing feelings.

Going about your day-to-day routine will be difficult, and you might find it nearly impossible to eat crunchy foods, relax or fall asleep. You may even notice slight swelling.

This type of tooth pain can be a symptom of a chipped or cracked tooth, abscessed tooth, dental decay, oral lesion or infection.

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How To Treat Major Tooth Pain

Schedule an appointment with an endodontist right away if you notice major or ongoing tooth pain. Endodontists specialize in diagnosing and treating tooth pain.

Don’t try to live your life with a sore or swollen mouth. A quick trip to Cascadia Dental Specialists can help you find the source of the problem and quickly relieve the pain.

Contact Cascadia Dental Specialists

Our doctors at Cascadia Dental Specialists can help you with endodontic treatments like root canals, oral surgeries and traumatic dental injuries. We always look at all treatment options to determine the best course of action for your unique case. 

Don’t live needlessly with minor or major tooth pain — contact us or schedule an appointment to get started today.

Our own Dr. Faghih is an endodontist with 15-plus of experience. He’s dedicated to minimizing the pain you feel and saving your natural teeth.