Dental Pain

What is it?

Why do we feel dental pain?

We feel dental pain when the nerves of the teeth are irritated or gums are inflamed. Although a tooth's nerves are protected by pulp, dentin and a hard outer enamel layer, damage to these parts of a tooth can make its nerves vulnerable to irritation, sometimes causing extreme pain. Inflamed tissues in the mouth can also contribute to toothache and sore gums when a build-up of white blood cells causes pressure at the site of injury.

Although not all causes of dental pain are serious, most require attention from a professional. It is important to get any problem with your gums or teeth checked out by your dentist.

What causes dental pain?

There are many conditions and treatments that can lead to dental pain.

One of the most common reasons for toothache is cavities or "caries." When bacteria build up in the mouth, a thin, sticky film called plaque forms around the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque convert the sugars in food to acids that eat away at the tooth's protective enamel layer. Once the enamel is gone, the dentin, which surrounds the tooth's sensitive inner pulp and nerves, is exposed to the bacteria and a cavity forms. If the cavity is left untreated, it will continue to grow and eventually reach the nerve of the tooth causing, in most cases, severe pain.

Infections of the gum, or periodontal (meaning "around the tooth") disease, are another common cause of dental pain. The same plaque that contributes to cavities can irritate the gums, making them inflame then recede to expose the tooth's cementum, which is the layer of the tooth under the gum tissue that covers the root. Periodontal disease can lead to chronic inflammation of the tissues in the mouth and gradual damage of the periodontium. This will result in the loss of bony support for the teeth and, eventually, loose teeth.

Other causes of tooth pain include bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching during sleep that can lead to tooth, gum, bone or jaw joint damage), and tooth and gum abrasion from frequent or rough tooth brushing.

Dental pain can also be caused by tissue inflammation or nerve irritation due to oral surgery, such as tooth extraction, or the pressure of newly tightened braces.