13 Possible Causes Of A Sudden Toothache

From brushing twice a day to visiting a dentist bi-annually, diligent adults and children deserve a gold star for maintaining excellent oral health. However, sometimes, even if you avoid candy, floss daily, and keep your dentist on speed dial, a sharp jolt or dull ache can sneak up on you, derail your day, and leave you searching for answers. While a cavity is the likely culprit, there are other potential causes of a toothache.

Let’s discuss the different types of tooth pain, the causes, and why you need to call Dr. Shervin Rahimi if pain persists.

What Is a Toothache?

A toothache refers to pain within or around a tooth. The intensity varies from mild discomfort to severe pain that can complicate eating, speaking, sleeping, or concentrating.

The different types of toothaches include:

• Dull, constant ache: Deep decay, an abscess, or pressure in the jaw due to clenching or grinding are the common causes of a continuous, dull ache. It can make the entire side of your mouth sore.
• Sharp or intermittent pain: Biting into food or exposing teeth to hot or cold temperatures can trigger this pain. Causes include cavities, enamel wear, or a cracked tooth.
• Throbbing pain: A pulsing sensation can be a sign of infection inside the pulp or in the tissues around the root. This type of toothache may worsen when you lie down or when blood flow to the head increases.
• Sensitivity to temperature or sweet foods: Brief, sudden jolts of pain when teeth come into contact with cold water, frozen treats, coffee, or sugar may suggest exposed dentin due to enamel erosion, gum recession, or a recent dental procedure.
• Referred pain: Pain due to a sinus infection can mime a toothache. You may feel pain in your upper teeth even if the source is outside the mouth.

If your symptoms differ from these types of tooth pain, contact your family dentist in Chandler, Arizona. Describe the sensation as best as you can, and your provider will give you instructions on how to relieve the pain before your appointment.

What’s Causing Your Toothache?

One out of four American adults aged 30 or older reported experiencing oral pain within the last 12 months, while 17%, 43% and 40% of children reported mild, moderate, and severe oral pain in the last 3 months. These statistics paint an alarming picture of dental distress across all age groups in the United States. The question is, what’s the cause?

There are several possible reasons why your teeth hurt, ranging from cavities and gum issues to enamel erosion.

1. Exposure to Extreme Cold or Heat

One of the most common causes of tooth pain is temperature sensitivity. If you sip an ice-cold drink or bite into something hot, the sharp pain that follows is a sign of the nerves in your tooth reacting. The hard outer coating of your tooth (enamel) is likely worn, or the inner layer (dentin) is exposed.

In a healthy tooth, enamel protects the nerve from extreme temperatures. When enamel is thin, hot or cold food and beverages can reach the nerve and trigger pain. You may feel a stabbing sensation that stops once you remove the stimulus.

If your teeth hurt after exposure to something cold, hot, or sweet, your dentist can identify the cause and suggest the best fix. Possible treatments include:

• Fluoride varnish to strengthen enamel and reduce discomfort
• Dentin sealant to block pain signals
• Dental bonding to cover exposed roots

Never brush away pain, even if it only happens when you eat or drink. See a dentist near you to know the underlying cause of your sensitive teeth and to prevent it from progressing into a more painful condition. In some cases, sensitivity is a warning sign of tooth decay, gum disease, a cracked filling, or a root infection.

2. Enamel Erosion (Dentin Hypersensitivity)

Expounding on cause #1 above, aggressive tooth brushing, acid reflux, and a diet high in acids, such as citrus fruits, tomato products, and carbonated soft drinks, can wear away enamel. Since the dentin underneath contains microscopic tubules connected to the nerve, anything hot, cold, sweet, or acidic can reach the nerve and cause pain.

To prevent further erosion, you may need to adjust your diet or brushing habits. But any exposed dentin will continue to cause sudden pain until a dentist treats it.

If you have advanced tooth erosion, your dentist may recommend:

• Dental bonding to cover exposed dentin 
• Veneers to restore lost enamel and improve appearance
• Dental crowns to replace extensive enamel loss and protect it from further damage

Without treatment, dental erosion can lead to hypersensitivity, an increased risk of cavities, and ultimately, tooth loss.

3. Tooth Decay or Cavity

Bacteria in plaque love feeding on sugars in your meals, snacks, and drinks. Then, they release acids that eat away at enamel. When this happens repeatedly, cavities eventually form.

If you’ve developed a habit of skipping brushing after meals, over time, plaque will build up, and caries will form in your teeth. At first, you may feel nothing. But once the decay reaches the inner pulp (where the nerve lives), the pain will be difficult to ignore.

Pain from tooth decay may come and go, or it may become constant. If the cavity is large, you may feel a sudden throbbing or sharp pain even when you’re not eating.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your dentist may recommend:

• Fluoride to strengthen enamel in early decay and stop cavities from progressing
• Fillings to seal the cavity after removing the decayed portion
• Root canal therapy to treat decay that has reached the pulp
• Tooth extraction to remove a severely damaged, unsalvageable tooth

While cavity-causing bacteria are not contagious, they can pass from one person to another through saliva. Kissing, drinking from the same container or straw, and sharing utensils can transfer bacteria from one mouth to another.

4. Gum Recession

When your gums pull back, the roots of your teeth lose their natural protection. Untreated gum disease, brushing too hard or aggressively, trauma or injury to your gum tissue, and smoking are among the causes of receded gums.

Unlike enamel, the root surface has a softer covering called cementum. Underneath it is dentin, which connects to the nerves. Once the root shows, contact with cold beverages, acidic foods, and even toothpaste can cause instant pain or a stinging sensation. The teeth may also look longer, and an abfraction or notch may be visible near the gumline.

About 50% of adults between 18 and 64, and 88% of people over 65, have gum recession on one or more teeth. The best way forward is to switch to gentle brushing and let a dentist treat the exposed area with one or more of the following:

• Topical antibiotics to treat periodontal disease
• Scaling and root planing to eliminate gum disease-causing bacteria
• Dental bonding to camouflage the area of recession
• Gum graft surgery is the most effective treatment for severely receded gums

Gums can’t grow back once they recede. However, you can stop receding gums from worsening by getting the treatment you need.

5. Gum Infection (Periodontal Disease)

Gum disease, also called periodontitis, is an infection of the gums and the teeth’s supporting tissues. While early gum disease (gingivitis) may only cause bleeding or mild soreness, pain is a common symptom in advanced cases.

In periodontitis, gum tissue detaches from the teeth, forming pockets that become infected with bacteria and tartar. These pockets trap debris and bacteria, causing further inflammation, bone and tissue destruction, and eventually tooth loss.

Sensitive teeth combined with swollen gums are a sign of advancing gum disease. The infection can trigger pain when biting, chewing, or brushing. This pain is typically dull and affects a group of teeth rather than a single spot. You may also notice bleeding, an unpleasant breath, or an unusual taste in your mouth along with the pain.

There are several treatments for gum disease available. Your dentist may use a combination of the following:

• Professional teeth cleaning and improved oral hygiene to reverse very early periodontal disease.
• Scaling and root planing to thoroughly clean gum tissue and remove plaque in people with mild gum disease.
• Pocket reduction surgery to remove plaque and tartar deep under the gums.
• Dental bone grafting to replace bone lost to gum disease.
• Gum grafting to address exposed tooth roots and add thickness to the gum line.
• Guided tissue regeneration to repair areas of broken-down bone and obstruct soft tissue from growing into these areas.
• Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to speed up healing and tissue regeneration.

Advanced gum disease isn’t curable, but it’s 100% manageable with the right treatment.

6. Cracked or Fractured Tooth

Biting something hard, a blow to the mouth, and long-term teeth grinding can wreck your smile. Even a tiny fracture in the enamel can expose the inner dentin or pulp. When that happens, any pressure or temperature change on the tooth can hit the nerve.

If you engage in contact sports, use your teeth as a tool, chew ice or anything hard, or recently took a hit to the mouth, chances are your oral pain is due to a cracked tooth. Seek emergency dental care, especially if you’re experiencing unbearable tooth pain with fever and chills.

Your dentist may recommend these treatments for a cracked tooth:

• • Dental bonding to fill in cracks
  • Dental crown to cap over the fractured tooth
  • Porcelain veneers to cover the cracked surface
  • Root canal to remove infected pulp
  • Tooth extraction to remove a tooth with a severely damaged root and nerve. Your dentist may substitute it with a dental implant or bridge.

It may take weeks to repair your smile, particularly if you opt for veneers or implants. Your family dentist will explain the restoration process, so you know what to expect.

7. Damaged Filling or Crown

If a dental filling chips or falls out, or if a crown cracks or becomes loose, the tooth beneath is no longer protected. Hot and cold foods, or even air, can hit the exposed tooth and cause a jolt of pain. Fixing or replacing the filling or crown will relieve the sensation.

8. Dental Abscess or Tooth Infection

Abscesses are pus-filled sacs resulting from bacterial infections inside the tooth or in the gums at the root. A deep cavity, a crack that allows bacteria to enter the pulp, and gum disease are the three most common causes.

The infection creates pressure in the tooth or gum, leading to intense, throbbing pain. You may notice swelling or a bump on the gum near the painful tooth, and the pain may reach your neck, jaw, or ears. Other indications of a dental abscess include a bad taste or odor in your oral cavity, as well as tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck. Fever or general illness may accompany it.

An abscess rarely gets better on its own. It usually needs treatment via the following to stop the pain and infection:

• Incision and drainage to remove the pus
• Root canal therapy to clear every trace of infection and save the tooth
• Dental extraction to remove a damaged tooth beyond repair

You’re more prone to developing an abscessed tooth if you smoke, practice poor oral hygiene, have dry mouth, or live with a chronic condition that weakens your immune system. If these risks apply to you, ask your dentist for advice on how to prevent abscess formation.

9. Sinus Flare-up

What feels like a toothache might actually be a sinus infection.

The roots of your upper back teeth are close to the sinus cavities in your cheeks. When those sinuses become inflamed or infected (sinusitis), the pressure can irritate the tooth nerves. As a result, you may feel pain in several upper teeth at once, or a deep, dull ache in the cheek and jaw area. 

Treating the sinus infection with decongestants or antibiotics, as prescribed by your doctor, will help relieve tooth pain.

10. Teeth Grinding or Jaw Clenching (Bruxism)

Unknowingly grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep could be one of the reasons why your tooth hurts. This habit, called bruxism, puts excessive pressure on your teeth. It can wear down enamel and cause tiny fractures, which, over time, can expose the tooth’s nerve.

If you wake up with a sore jaw, headache, or an aching tooth that was fine the night before, you might be grinding or clenching in your sleep. A quick trip to your local dentist can verify whether you have this habit or not.

Mild bruxism rarely needs treatment. However, in more severe cases, healthcare providers might suggest these bruxism treatments:

• Mouth guards to protect your smile and reduce TMJ muscle strain
• Meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy to manage stress-induced bruxism
• Muscle relaxers to reduce or prevent teeth grinding
• Botulinum toxin injections in severe cases, to help relax the jaw muscles and reduce pain. Repeating treatments every three months or so is necessary to maintain your results.

Left untreated, grinding can lead to tooth erosion and loose or cracked teeth. It can also cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, sleep disorders, and facial pain.

11. Impacted Tooth

An impacted tooth is stuck under the gum, primarily due to a lack of space in the jawbone. If a child’s permanent tooth or an adult’s wisdom tooth is pushing against another tooth or bone, it can cause discomfort or pain in the area. Even a partially erupted tooth can trap food and bacteria under a gum flap, causing infection and pain (pericoronitis).

Symptoms of impacted teeth can come and go, or be persistent. You may notice red, swollen, or bleeding gums in the affected area, jaw pain, bad breath, a foul taste in your palate, discomfort when opening your mouth, headaches, or swollen lymph nodes in your neck. A dental X-ray can check whether an impacted tooth is causing these symptoms.

Dentists treat impacted teeth through the following:

• Impacted tooth removal
• Eruption aids help a child’s tooth come in when it won’t emerge on its own

While an impacted tooth can be irritating, complications are unlikely if you receive immediate dental care.

12. Recent Dental Procedures

After a filling, the tooth’s nerve endings can stay sensitive for up to four weeks. During this time, you might feel a sudden surge of pain when biting on or brushing near the treated tooth. While this sensitivity typically subsides on its own, taking your dentist’s recommended pain relievers and avoiding hard or sticky foods can ease and prevent further discomfort.

If the pain doesn’t gradually fade or if it worsens, follow up with your dentist to ensure nothing is wrong.

13. Teeth Whitening or Bleaching Products

Many teeth whitening gels, strips, and over-the-counter bleaching products use peroxide-based compounds to break down stains within the tooth structure. However, this process temporarily increases the porosity of tooth enamel.

When enamel becomes too porous, it creates microscopic pathways that allow stimuli to reach the underlying dentin layer more easily. With this protective barrier compromised, you may experience sharp, shooting, or intense pain when eating, drinking, brushing, flossing, or breathing through your mouth.

Fortunately, this heightened sensitivity is temporary. Most people’s symptoms go away within a few days or a week, as the enamel remineralizes and returns to its normal state.

When to Seek Toothache Treatments in Chandler, Arizona

See a dentist if sudden tooth pain persists for more than a day or two, or if it comes with other symptoms. Red flags include fever, chills, or swelling in your face or mouth. Severe pain when biting down or swallowing, persistent bleeding, or a hard lump on the gums are also reasons to call your family dentist in Chandler, AZ. Until you see your provider, rinse with warm salt water or take over-the-counter medication to ease discomfort.

Each case of sudden tooth pain is different, and this overview covers many possible causes. At Kyrene Family Dentistry, Dr. Rahimi will examine your oral cavity’s every nook and cranny, as well as take X-rays to identify the root cause. Tooth pain treatments, such as fillings, root canals, gum grafting, or extraction, can then relieve your toothache. Call us at 480-705-9005 for emergency dental care or to schedule an appointment.