No one likes having a toothache. It can be really painful and can make everyday things like eating and drinking more difficult. Whenever you notice pain starting in your mouth, specifically your teeth, it is important to get to the root cause quickly so that a treatable issue does not become more serious.

Here are the top 5 things that can cause your teeth to ache.

1 – Wisdom Teeth

Did your wisdom teeth ever come in? If you haven’t had them removed and they haven’t come in, you could be teething as an adult. And yes, just as teething is exhausting for kids, it is not any easier for adults. In addition to pain, food can get stuck under the gums causing decay or infection.

2 – Tooth Grinding

We are all under a lot of stress. One of the ways that our stress can manifest itself is through teeth grinding at night. Grinding your teeth at night can cause enamel issues or even cracks in your teeth. Luckily, your dentist can easily tell if you are grinding your teeth and get you fit for a mouth guard that will provide protection while you are sleeping.

3 – Sensitive Teeth

There are a few reasons that your teeth could be more sensitive (especially to warm or cold liquids) including: gum disease or a recent filling. When you have gum disease, your gums shrink away from your teeth which exposes your roots making your teeth more sensitive. You can also experience tooth sensitivity for a few weeks after a filling or even a routine cleaning. It is important to keep an eye on it and if you haven’t had a filling or cleaning recently go to the dentist to get it checked out.

4 – Damaged Teeth

Of course, one of the most common reasons your tooth hurts is because it has encountered some damage. When we don’t take care of our teeth with daily brushing and flossing, we leave them open to attack from bacteria. The longer bacteria is on or in between your teeth, the more acid it produces. That acid then creates holes in your enamel called cavities. Cavities can make your teeth hurt.

Sometimes damage happens more quickly: you bite down on a nut or hard food item and instantly feel pain. It is very likely that you cracked your tooth. A cracked tooth is very painful.

5 – Sinus Infection

A non-dental related reason you could have a toothache is a sinus infection. We have heard from several patients over the years that one of the first symptoms of their sinus infections is tooth pain. It can be widespread in the mouth or more isolated to the side that is affected by the infection. Unfortunately, if the sinus infection is the cause you have to treat the sinus infection and wait for the tooth pain to get better.

Toothaches are not normal and can be indicative that something more serious is going on. If you are experiencing any tooth pain, call us today to schedule an appointment!