Having throbbing tooth pain, especially if it comes and goes, can be a bothersome experience that interferes with your daily life. Indeed, it can make surviving a day at work or school challenging. So in this post, we’ll talk about some of the reasons that you can have throbbing tooth pain, and explain what you can do to treat it.
What Causes Throbbing Tooth Pain?
Tooth pain is an obvious sign that something’s wrong with your oral cavity. Far from being simple, bony structures, teeth are alive and richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. This helps keep them healthy and allows them to last as they sustain the wear and tear of their duties.
The tough outer layer of enamel keeps bacteria out of the soft, delicate pulp inside. However, if bacteria are able to compromise the enamel and enter the tooth, they can cause infection. This can lead to swelling, inflammation, and tooth damage. The pain is your body’s way of making it clear that there’s a problem you need to address.
The most common reason for throbbing tooth pain is tooth decay. While a normal amount of bacteria live in your mouth, not maintaining good oral hygiene or having too many sugary drinks or snacks can promote their growth. Some bacterial acids can compromise enamel and cause cavities. Second to tooth decay is gum disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. This is also the result of bacterial infiltration.
You can also develop tooth pain if you’ve split or fractured a tooth. This can happen due to an injury, or by biting something very hard. Naturally, this fracture can irritate the sensitive tooth pulp while opening the doors for foreign debris, such as food particles and bacteria. If you have a tooth filling, it can sustain damage the same way.
It’s also possible that you’ve developed an abscess, which is a pocket of bacteria and fluid near the root of a tooth. This is particularly dangerous, as the infection can seep into your bloodstream, as well as other parts of your face and jaw – which can result in a medical emergency.
Treatment Options
Any treatment for tooth pain requires a professional dental examination.
A dentist will examine the area that hurts and diagnose the problem. If you have a cavity or bacterial infection, they will thoroughly clean and sterilize the affected tooth. Removing plaque, tartar, and bacterial waste will ensure that the infection does not return. Then, they’ll repair any damage or holes in the tooth, sealing it off to prevent future issues. They might choose to augment a tooth with a crown or veneer, or if it’s not possible to save, replace it with a dental implant.
Ultimately, the goal is to remove the source of the pain and prevent future issues from occurring. A qualified dentist will give you the best options based on your individual needs.
Pasadena Oral Surgery offers personalized, high-quality surgery for every patient. We pride ourselves on making a difference by keeping patients comfortable through their surgery and priming them for success. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (281) 299-0053 for the best oral surgery in Pasadena, TX.