What Causes Sudden Tooth Pain? Causes, Treatments, Fast Relief

Sudden tooth pain can occur unexpectedly. Whether it be sharp pain when you drink cold water or a deep throb whilst watching television. Oral health directly affects your overall health and well being. As dental health is a crucial part of overall medical health, it is important to understand the underlying cause so you can look after your mouth and body.

Dentists and medical professionals will always advise you not to ignore sudden tooth pain. This detailed article will show you why you are experiencing sudden dental pain, how doctors will assess your oral health and when to visit an emergency dentist.

What Are the Top Causes of Sudden Tooth Pain?

Can Deep Cavities or Severe Enamel Damage Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

The most common reason people suffer from sudden tooth pain is due to a cavity. When eating sugary foods or carbohydrates, bacteria in your mouth will feed on the sugars creating harmful acids. These acids will then start to dissolve your tough enamel.

• Enamel Dissolution: The acid will begin to eat away at your enamel and reach the dentine layer. Dentine contains lots of small microscopic channels which lead to your tooth nerves.

• Nerve Pain: The acid will trigger your nerves by allowing cold drinks, hot soup or sweet snacks to enter these channels causing sudden sharp pain to your brain.

• Deep Bacterial Cavity: The bacteria will create deep pockets in your tooth. They will grow quickly and cause irritation.

Can a Sudden Tooth Breakage or Cracked Enamel Cause Pain?

Your enamel can crack due to trauma, biting down on something hard or grinding your teeth. Sometimes the cracks may not be visible but will cause severe sudden pain.

• Crack Opening: When you bite down on your food the crack will open slightly. This will cause the inner part of your tooth to bend and irritate your nerves.

• Pain upon Release: Often the pain is worst when you release your bite. This causes the micro crack to snap shut causing severe pain to your nerves.

• Acidous Fluids Entering: The cracks will allow the acidous fluids, hot liquids and harmful bacteria to get deep into your tooth.

Can Dental Pulp Infections and Root Abscesses Cause Sudden Pain?

If the cavity or cracks aren’t treated, bacteria will enter your deepest chamber of your tooth. This is known as the dental pulp. This contains blood vessels and nerves.

• Pulpitis: The pulp will become inflamed due to the infection. As it is surrounded by tough dentine the pressure will build up quickly causing severe throbbing pain.

• Abscess: Dead tissue and pus will build up at the end of your root in your jawbone. This creates a painful abscess.

• Infection Build Up: The abscess will press against your jawbone and surrounding nerves causing severe constant pain which will wake you from a deep sleep.

Can Exposed Tooth Roots Due to Severe Gum Recession Cause Pain?

Healthy gums will cover your tooth roots. If your gums recede they will expose your roots. These have no enamel to protect them.

• Hard Bristled Brushing: Using a hard bristled brush or scrubbing your teeth will cause your gums to wear away.

• Gum Disease: Plaque can build up and cause chronic gum inflammation. This will cause the soft tissue and bone supporting your tooth roots to erode.

• Exposed Nerves: Thousands of nerves will be exposed. The cold air, hot coffee or icy drink will cause instant nerve pain.

Can Trauma to the Tooth Cause Sudden Pain?

Accidents, injuries during sport and sudden force to your face can cause damage to your teeth.

• Periodontal Ligament Bruising: The trauma will stretch and bruise the small fibers that hold your tooth root in your jawbone. This will cause extreme pain when touching your tooth.

• Nerve Blood Supply Lost: If there has been a sudden hard hit to your tooth it can cause the delicate blood vessels going to the end of your root to snap. This will cause the nerve to die due to lack of oxygen and cause severe inflammation.

• Pain Can Occur Immediately or Later: The pain can occur straight after the trauma or weeks/months/years later.

Can Broken Fillings or Damaged Crowns Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

Fillings, crowns and bridges are used to protect weak teeth. However over time they can wear, become loose or break.

• Loose Bond: The cement holding your tooth and crown/filling together will wear away over time causing small gaps.

• Food and Bacteria Getting In: Food particles and bacteria will get under your loose filling. The microbes will thrive in the dark spaces causing quick hidden decay.

• Exposed Tooth: Losing your filling will expose the raw dentine causing sudden sharp pain.

Can Sinus Infections Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

Not all tooth pain can come from inside your mouth. Your back molars are situated directly under your maxillary sinuses.

• Sinus Inflammation: Virus or bacterial infections can cause inflammation of your nasal passages. This will cause a heavy build up of fluid in your sinuses.

• Pressure on Upper Roots: The inflamed floor of your sinus will put pressure on the nerve ends of your back upper teeth.

• Referred Pain: This will cause dull constant pain to several of your upper back teeth especially when bending over.

Can Night Time Grinding Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

Many people will unconsciously grind their teeth or clench their jaw whilst sleeping. This causes damage to your teeth.

• Periodontal Muscle Strain: Grinding your teeth can cause hundreds of pounds of pressure on your teeth. This can cause inflammation of the ligaments holding your teeth in your jawbone.

• Tooth Surface Wear: Constant grinding will cause the surface of your teeth to wear down and cause the enamel to wear away. This will expose the raw dentine.

• Sudden Dull Pain: Usually causes sudden dull pain to many of your teeth, jaw joints and facial muscles as you wake up.

Can Wisdom Teeth Issues Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last adult teeth to grow in your mouth. Most human jaws do not have enough space for these large teeth.

• Impacted Teeth: Often wisdom teeth will grow at an angle. This will cause them to push against neighboring molars or become impacted in the dense jawbone.

• Food Trapped: Partially erupted wisdom teeth can cause flappy gums. Food will get trapped under the gums causing painful infections known as pericoronitis.

• Jaw Pressure: The wisdom teeth trying to erupt will cause intense pressure to your whole jaw.

How Can Sudden Tooth Pain Affect Your Overall Health?

Sudden tooth pain can affect your overall health, nutrition and well being. As mouth infections can cause risk to your overall health, dental health is considered an important health topic.

• Bacterial Spread: Untreated abscesses can cause dangerous bacteria to spread through your blood to your heart, brain, neck and respiratory system.

• Poor Nutrition: Severe pain will make it difficult to chew nutritious solid foods causing poor nutrition and digestion issues.

• Lack of Sleep: Severe throbbing pain will cause you to lose sleep. This will increase your stress hormones and weaken your natural immunity.

How Do Dentists Diagnose the Cause of Sudden Tooth Pain?

Dentists will use strict methods to find the exact cause of your pain.

• Medical History: Your dentist will ask about your medical history, current health issues, medication you take daily and any recent symptoms.

• Digital X-Rays: High quality digital x-rays will show any hidden cavities between your teeth, infections at the root of your teeth, bone loss and where your wisdom teeth are hidden.

• Pulp Testing: Your dentist will apply a mild stimulus such as cold, hot or electric to see if your nerves are healthy, inflamed or dead.

• Gum Probing: A delicate probe will be used to measure the depth of your gums. This will show any bone loss or abscesses.

What Are the Treatment Options for Sudden Tooth Pain?

Once your dentist has diagnosed the cause of your pain they will create a targeted plan to remove the infection.

• Fillings: If there is a small cavity your dentist will remove the decayed enamel and fill the clean hole with composite resin.

• Root Canal: If the infection has reached your nerve pulp your dentist will clean out the dead tissue and disinfect the root canals.

• Crowns: If your tooth is severely cracked or full of fillings your dentist will fit a bespoke crown made from ceramic. This will help with chewing and prevent further damage.

• Extractions: If your tooth has suffered irreparable damage to the root or severe bone loss your dentist will safely extract the tooth.

What Home Remedies Can Help Relieve Sudden Tooth Pain?

Whilst home remedies won’t treat the underlying infection, there are some simple ways to help.

• Salt Water Rinse: Mix half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and rinse your mouth. This will help soothe inflamed gums and remove trapped food.

• Cold Compress: Apply a cold pack wrapped in a soft towel to your cheek for 15 minutes. This will help reduce swelling and numb the pain.

• Painkillers: Take over the counter painkillers as instructed.

• Eat Soft Foods: Eat soft foods at room temperature. Avoid very hot coffee, icy drinks, crunchy nuts and sticky sweets.

• Head Raised: Raise your head with extra pillows whilst resting to avoid increasing the pressure in your head and tooth pulp.

When Should You Seek Emergency Help for Sudden Tooth Pain?

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms it shows you have a spreading infection which is life threatening.

• Swelling: If you are suffering with swelling in your cheek, eye area, lower jaw or neck it shows you have a fast spreading infection.

• Difficulty Breathing: If the infection has spread to the deep parts of your neck it can cause breathing difficulties.

• High Temperature: If you are suffering from a high temperature it shows your body is fighting a severe infection.

• Bleeding: If there is persistent bleeding from your gums or tooth socket and cannot be stopped by firm pressure you should seek medical help.

What Are the Top Tips for Managing Sudden Tooth Pain?

• Book an appointment with a qualified dentist.

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.

• Apply a cold compress to your cheek.

• Do not apply aspirin directly to your gums as the acid will cause painful burns.

• Don’t chew on the affected tooth until seen by a dentist.

• If you are suffering from tooth pain along with a high temperature or difficulty breathing seek emergency help from hospital.

What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Sudden Tooth Pain?

Can Sudden Toothache Go Away?

A sudden toothache may seem to go away if the nerve in your tooth has died completely. However there is still an active infection in your jawbone and it will continue to spread. You will need to see a dentist to treat the infection.

Why Does Toothache Get Worse at Night?

Your blood flow and pressure will increase in your head and tooth pulp when lying down. There are also no distractions at night so you will be much more aware of the pain.

Can a Sinus Infection Cause Sudden Tooth Pain?

Yes! A sinus infection will cause a build up of fluid and pressure in your maxillary sinuses. As your upper back tooth roots are directly below these it will cause pressure on the nerve ends causing dull aching pain.

When Is Toothache an Emergency?

If you are suffering from swelling in your face, high temperature, difficulty swallowing, uncontrollable bleeding or extreme throbbing pain it is an emergency.

Sudden tooth pain is a clear indicator that your body needs attention. Whether it be a simple cavity, cracked tooth, exposed root or deep abscess it is important to seek professional help quickly to protect your smile. Book an appointment with your dentist to diagnose the issue, remove the pain and give you back your healthy smile.