Toothaches are troublesome for more reasons than just the discomfort they cause. For instance, depending on its cause, your toothache might also indicate a more serious underlying issue with your oral health. Depending on its severity, the ache can also impact your ability to bite and chew comfortably, or even go about your daily activities. Also, your toothache may be caused by a wide range of potential factors, and in order to provide lasting relief from it, we’ll first have to diagnose the cause of your aching tooth.
One of the most common causes of increasingly more sensitive teeth is the increasing erosion of healthy, natural tooth enamel. This highly mineralized layer surrounding your teeth is their main protection against things like plaque and tartar, and the oral bacteria that lead to things like tooth decay. When too many oral bacteria accumulate on your teeth, they can release harmful substances like acids that systematically erode your tooth enamel. By brushing and flossing your teeth every day, you can control bacteria buildup and the erosion of your enamel to prevent it from occurring too severely.
If you ignore sensitive teeth and enamel erosion long enough, you’re likely to develop a cavity, which is caused by tooth decay (an infection in your tooth). The pain caused by a cavity is more intense than the sensitivity caused by enamel erosion, and the cavity (hole) in your tooth will continue to grow if you ignore it further. In many cases, we can treat the cavity and alleviate the pain with the help of a custom-designed, tooth-colored filling. Made from biocompatible resin, the filling will restore your tooth and protect it from further infection, all while blending in discreetly with your healthy, natural tooth structure.
In addition to tooth decay, physical damage to your tooth structure can be another cause of your persistent toothache. Sometimes, a crack or break may not be immediately obvious, and the pain in your tooth can be surprising. If a dental exam reveals tooth damage, then we can design an appropriate restoration to repair the tooth’s function and stop it from hurting. The appropriate restoration will depend on the extent of your tooth’s damage, as well as your own personal preferences.
Your toothache could be caused by one of several different factors, so alleviating it requires carefully diagnosing and treating its source. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Yelena Popkova D.D.S. in Merrimack, NH, today at 603-595-9400. We also serve the residents of Nashua, Hudson, Manchester, Milford, and all surrounding communities.