Tooth Pain (Toothache)

Tooth pain doesn’t always feel the same, and the way it presents can tell you a lot about what’s behind it. Some kinds of pain are minor and short-lived, while other types may persist and could signal something more serious. Most causes of tooth pain are easily treatable – especially when caught early.

Understanding the types of tooth pain you can feel and what may be causing it can help you know when it might be time to visit your dentist, or even seek emergency dental care.

At Oasis Dental Studio, our experienced cosmetic and general dentists provide a variety of treatment options. If you need help with persistent tooth pain, please get in touch with our team in either the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Pottsville to schedule a routine appointment.

If you are currently experiencing a significant toothache, we recommend seeking dental care as soon as possible. At Oasis, we provide emergency dental care at each of our locations.

Types and Causes of Tooth Pain

It can be hard to pinpoint how your toothache feels. Here is a general guide outlining the different types of tooth pain and what could be the cause.

Tooth Sensitivity: Sensitivity to Cold or Hot Products

Tooth sensitivity is quite common. It may feel like a quick, sharp feeling when something cold or hot touches your teeth. While some minor and even temporary sensitivity may be okay, if you’re experiencing quite severe or persistent sensitivity, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with your dentist.

Some causes of tooth sensitivity can include:

• Recent dental work or whitening treatments: Some dental procedures, like fillings, crowns, or teeth whitening, can cause temporary sensitivity. Whitening, in particular, can dehydrate the teeth slightly, making them more reactive to stimuli for a short time.
• Worn-down enamel: Enamel is the protective outer layer of your teeth, and once it wears down, the underlying dentine becomes exposed. Dentine has tiny tubules that lead to the nerve, so anything hot or cold can then easily trigger pain. Enamel can wear down from aggressive brushing, acid erosion from diet or reflux, or general wear and tear over time.
• Receding gums: When gums pull back from the teeth, the roots become exposed. Unlike enamel-covered tooth surfaces, the roots are protected only by cementum, which is much thinner and more vulnerable to sensitivity. Recession can happen due to gum disease, brushing too hard, or even just as a result of ageing.
• Minor tooth decay: Early-stage cavities can cause sensitivity before pain becomes persistent. As decay eats away at the enamel and reaches the dentine, temperature changes can cause some discomfort.

A Dull Toothache: Typically an Ongoing Pain

A dull, ongoing toothache is the opposite of sharp sudden tooth pain. It can feel more like there is some pressure being applied to your teeth. This kind of pain can sometimes be managed with good oral hygiene and pain relief, but if it still doesn’t subside, it’s likely a good time to see your dentist.

Certain causes of this type of toothache can be fairly simple and easy to solve, while others may require the need for a personalised dental treatment:

• Food debris stuck between teeth or under the gums: Even something as simple as a small piece of food lodged between teeth or beneath the gums can cause irritation. While it may be easy to fix, if the debris is left there, bacteria can start breaking it down, leading to localised inflammation and discomfort.
• Clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism): Many people clench or grind their teeth without realising it, often while sleeping. This puts excess pressure on the teeth and jaw, leading to dull aches, particularly in the morning. Over time, it can also cause enamel wear and cracks.
• A developing infection or early-stage gum disease: Gum infections can start subtly, with mild discomfort rather than severe pain. If bacteria begin to build up beneath the gums, they can cause inflammation, which may eventually develop into a more serious issue.
• Tooth decay that’s working its way inwards: A cavity might not cause pain at first, but as decay progresses toward the deeper layers of the tooth, a dull ache can develop. This usually worsens over time if left untreated.
• Wisdom teeth movement: When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to come through properly, they can become impacted, pushing against other teeth or staying trapped under the gum. This can lead to pain, swelling, and even infection. In many cases, removal is the most effective solution.

A Sharp Toothache: Typically Sudden Pain

Opposite to dull, ongoing pain, this type of toothache tends to come out of nowhere and can be short-lived. It might be triggered when you bite down or when your tooth comes into contact with something hot or cold. This type of tooth pain can feel more alarming, especially when it occurs quite suddenly and unexpectedly.

Apart from an odd one-off experience, if you continue to notice a sharp, sudden toothache, it could have one of the following causes:

• A cracked or fractured tooth: Cracks can develop from biting down on hard foods, trauma to the mouth, or even long-term teeth grinding.
• A broken filling or crown: Fillings and crowns are designed to protect teeth that have already been weakened by decay. If they break or come loose, the sensitive inner parts of the tooth can become exposed, leading to pain.
• Advanced decay that is exposed to the nerves: If a cavity reaches the pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth where the nerves are), it can cause sudden, sharp pain. At this stage, treatment like a root canal is often needed to save the tooth.

A Throbbing Toothache: Often Accompanied by Swelling

A constant, pulsing pain that’s hard to ignore might mean there’s an infection somewhere – especially if your cheek or gum is swollen, as well. Slightly different from the dull toothache we mentioned earlier, which is more characterised by a feeling of pressure, this type of pain feels like it is throbbing and can feel more significant.

Typically, if the pain has reached this level, the possible causes are those that will require dental care:

• A build up of bacteria: Sometimes, bacteria can reach the soft tissue inside the tooth (the pulp) or the tissue around the root. In these cases, the pain may feel worse when lying down or chewing.
• A dental abscess: An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms as the body fights off a bacterial infection. It can develop at the tip of the tooth root (periapical abscess) or in the gums (periodontal abscess). Abscesses often cause severe pain, swelling, and sometimes a bad taste in the mouth. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other areas.
• Severe gum disease: Advanced gum disease (periodontitis) can lead to deep infections that affect both the gums and the supporting bone. This can cause throbbing pain, loose teeth, and swelling.
• An infected or dead tooth: If a tooth’s nerve dies due to decay, trauma, or repeated dental procedures, bacteria can build up inside it, leading to infection. The pain can be intense and can also come with a feeling of pressure around the tooth.

Tooth Pain That Has Spread from Elsewhere

Sometimes, a toothache can actually be coming from another cause that isn’t directly related to the tooth itself.

These causes can include:

• Sinus infections: The upper molars sit close to the sinuses, so when the sinuses are inflamed or infected, it can cause pressure that mimics tooth pain. This is often accompanied by nasal congestion, headaches, or facial tenderness.
• Jaw issues (TMJ disorders): The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull, and problems with this joint can cause pain that spreads to the teeth. This can happen due to stress, teeth grinding, or an uneven bite.
• Teeth grinding (bruxism): Constant grinding or clenching can make multiple teeth feel sore, rather than just one specific area. Over time, this can also lead to enamel wear, fractures, and jaw pain.

When to See a Dentist – And When It’s an Emergency

Tooth pain doesn’t always require emergency care, but there are times when getting help quickly will be ideal.

Our experienced dentists at Oasis Dental Studio in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Pottsville offer both routine and emergency care.

You should schedule a routine check-up with your dentist if:

• Your pain is mild but lingers for more than a day or two
• You’re experiencing ongoing sensitivity to hot or cold products
• You notice bleeding gums or a change in gum appearance
• A filling or crown has come loose, but there’s no pain or swelling
• You suspect you’ve cracked a tooth, but the pain is currently manageable

You should seek urgent or emergency dental care if:

• The pain is severe, sudden, or doesn’t subside with pain relief
• You have facial swelling or swelling around the jaw or neck
• There’s a visible abscess or pus in the mouth
• You have a fever or feel generally unwell
• A tooth has been knocked out or badly broken
• There’s uncontrolled bleeding from the gums or mouth