One of the earliest signs of a dental problem is tooth pain. Tooth pain is your body's way of telling you that you may need to book an appointment with your dentist. But tooth pain isn't as simple as it might seem. For instance, a tooth might hurt for more than one reason. This article will help to shed some light on the various facets of tooth pain.

1. Intermittent tooth pain indicates sensitivity

When pain comes and goes, this usually means that the tooth pain is caused by sensitivity. Some people have naturally sensitive teeth due to having a thin enamel layer on their teeth. The sensations of hot and cold, as well as acidic foods, penetrate thin enamel and irritate the nerve in the center of your teeth. Teeth that were not sensitive before can become sensitive if their enamel layer begins to dissolve due to oral bacteria or too much acidic food.

2. Chronic tooth pain may be a tooth infection

One of the earliest signs of a tooth infection is a chronic toothache. If your tooth aches incessantly, the nerve inside the affected tooth may be infected. A tooth can become infected when bacteria invade it via a cavity or fracture.

3. Dental pain is sometimes referred

Sometimes, you may feel pain in one tooth but the pain actually originates in another tooth, often in the opposite dental arch. This is called referred pain. Because the upper and lower jaw share a nerve called the trigeminal nerve, pain sometimes refers to other locations.

4. Gum recession causes tooth pain

Did you know that the necks of teeth have less enamel than the upper portion of teeth? As mentioned earlier, thin enamel leads to dental sensitivity. Although gum tissue usually protects the necks of teeth, sometimes, due to trauma or infection, gums recede. If you look closely, you can see receding gums. The necks of teeth are yellowish in color because of the dentin layer under the enamel.

5. Tooth pain fades after teeth die

When teeth become infected, you usually experience severe dental pain for a day or more. But once the nerve inside an infected tooth dies, the tooth pain may fade away for a while. This is because the dead nerve no longer transmits pain signals to the brain. However, in time, the pain will return as the nerve decays and the tooth fills up with infected material (pus).

If you are experiencing tooth pain, pay close attention. Tooth pain is usually a warning sign of a dental issue, such as a cavity or gum disease. Book an appointment with your dentist before the dental issue worsens.

Contact a local dental office, such as Apollo Dental Center, to learn more.