Pain around your back molars can really have a negative effect on your whole day. It can make it difficult to eat and cause intense pain. As your back molars are responsible for doing most of the grinding within your mouth, they are more vulnerable to problems. They can easily get food caught behind them and can be difficult to properly brush. Knowing the cause of your molar pain will mean you can get the right treatment quickly.

Can Impacted Wisdom Teeth Cause Pain Around Back Molars?

Wisdom teeth are situated at the very back of your jaw. They attempt to erupt through your gums in your late teens/early adult years. As many jaws do not have enough room for extra teeth, the wisdom tooth will become impacted. This can cause it to grow horizontally, lean against other teeth or get stuck beneath your gum.

The impacted wisdom teeth will cause pressure build up against your neighboring molars. This causes a dull throbbing pain in the jaw. Your gums in this area often become inflamed and painful to touch. If the wisdom tooth erupts partly through your skin, a small flap of gum tissue will cover the tooth. Food particles will become trapped beneath this flap creating a dark place for bacteria to thrive. This will cause an infection known as pericoronitis.

This causes intense localized pain around your back molars. You may notice bad breath, unpleasant taste and difficulty fully opening your mouth. Minor cases of pericoronitis can be treated with salt water rinses and professionally cleaned by your dentist. If the wisdom tooth continues to cause issues, an oral surgeon will need to remove it.

Can Tooth Decay and Deep Cavities Cause Back Molar Pain?

Tooth decay is a common cause of back molar pain. Your back molars have deep grooves and ridges on the biting surface. Whilst these ridges help crush food, they can trap small food particles. These are eaten by bacteria in your mouth and cause harmful acids.

As enamel has no nerves, there will be no pain from initial cavities. Eventually the acids will erode through the enamel and reach the dentin. Dentin has tiny channels that lead straight to the nerve. This will cause sharp pain when consuming hot, cold or sweet foods.

If left untreated, the bacteria will reach the center of your tooth. This is the pulp of the tooth which contains blood vessels and sensitive nerves. The bacteria invading this area will cause severe inflammation. This causes extreme pressure on the nerve within the hard shell of your tooth. You will experience constant throbbing pain that will keep you awake at night. Simple decay can be treated with dental fillings. If the decay reaches the nerve, a root canal treatment or full extraction will be required.

Can Gum Disease and Periodontitis Cause Pain Around Back Molars?

Healthy gums should tightly surround each molar to protect the roots. Poor oral hygiene can cause a sticky bacterial film (plaque) to build up along your gum line. Within 48hrs this plaque will harden to form tartar. This cannot be brushed away at home and will require a dental professional to remove.

The tartar will irritate your gums causing early stages of gum disease (gingivitis). Your gums will become inflamed, red and bleed easily when brushing. If left untreated this can progress to periodontitis. This causes destruction to the soft tissue and bone supporting your molars.

As the bone begins to recede away from the tooth, deep pockets will form around the root of your molars (periodontal pockets). Bacteria will thrive in these deep pockets and cause an infection. This causes constant deep pain around your back molars. You may also notice your molar becoming loose and pus forming around the gum line. Periodontitis can be treated by your dental hygienist using deep cleaning techniques (scaling and root planing). If there is severe bone loss, periodontal surgery may be required.

Can Cracked Teeth Cause Pain Around Back Molars?

Your back molars go under extreme pressure as you bite and chew your food. This can cause a crack or fracture to occur. This can happen due to:

  • Eating hard foods such as ice, hard sweets or un-popped popcorn kernels.

  • Teeth grinding/ clenching whilst sleeping.

  • Large fillings weakening the tooth.

  • Trauma to your face and jaw.

Cracked tooth syndrome causes very specific symptoms. You will feel a sudden sharp pain when biting down on food. This will disappear instantly when you release the bite. As the crack opens slightly, this causes irritation to the inner nerve (pulp).

Micro cracks will often not show up on x-rays. Your dentist will use specialist tools such as light probes or biting sticks to identify the crack. Depending on how deep the crack is, treatment will vary. Small cracks on the surface of the tooth can be fixed with a dental crown. If the crack goes deep under the gum line, your dentist will have to remove the tooth.

Can a Dental Abscess Cause Pain Around Back Molars?

A dental abscess is a severe infection around the root of your molar. They occur when bacteria invades the nerve chamber of your tooth. This can happen through a deep cavity, cracked tooth or severe periodontitis. The body will send white blood cells to fight the bacteria causing a pocket of pus to form at the tip of the root or around the gums.

This will cause extreme throbbing pain. The pain will radiate from your back molars to your ear, jaw bone and neck. Symptoms you will experience include:

  • Severe sensitivity to hot and cold.

  • Pain when touching/tapping your back molars.

  • Swelling in your cheek, facial area or lymph nodes in your neck.

  • Sudden fever.

  • Small pimple like bump on your gums close to the painful molar.

You will need an emergency dental appointment as this is a severe infection. The infection can quickly spread to your jaw bone and neck. Your dentist will drain the pus pocket to relieve the pressure. A root canal will be carried out to clear the infection or the infected tooth will be removed completely. Antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent the infection spreading further.

Can Teeth Grinding Cause Pain in Your Back Molars?

Teeth grinding (bruxism) causes widespread pain throughout your back teeth. Many people grind their teeth subconsciously whilst sleeping. Stress and anxiety can cause clenching during the day.

The majority of the force from grinding will be felt in your back molars. This will cause the protective enamel to wear away over time. This exposes the dentin making your back molars very sensitive to temperature.

The force from grinding can cause strain on the periodontal ligament. This is a fibrous ligament attaching your molar root to your jaw bone. Straining the ligament will cause a dull ache in your back molars when eating.

Bruxism can cause strain on your temporomandibular joint. This is located just in front of your ears. This will cause pain that feels like it is coming from your upper/lower back molars. A bespoke night guard can be worn to prevent damage from grinding whilst sleeping. Managing stress can also help reduce clenching during the day.

Can Sinus Infections Cause Pain Around Your Back Molars?

Sometimes the pain around your upper back molars may not be caused by a dental issue. Your maxillary sinuses are located directly above the roots of your upper back teeth. There is a thin layer of bone separating your sinuses from your tooth roots. In some people, the upper molar roots will actually grow straight up into the sinus cavity.

When you suffer from a sinus infection, the maxillary sinus cavity will fill with inflammatory fluid. This will put significant pressure on the nerve tips of your upper back molars.

Sinus related molar pain usually affects multiple upper back molars. The pain will increase when you bend over, jump or tilt your head forwards. Common symptoms you will suffer from include:

  • Stuffy nose with thick discharge.

  • Pressure in your eye and cheek area.

  • Constant dull headache.

  • Loss of smell and taste.

Treating the sinus infection will relieve the pressure on your molar nerves. Using nasal decongestants, saline sprays and warm compresses will reduce inflammation in your sinuses. If the infection is bacterial, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

How Can You Prevent Pain Around Your Back Molars?

To avoid molar pain, it is important to keep up good daily oral hygiene and see a professional regularly. To keep your back molars healthy, simply:

  • Brush your teeth thoroughly twice daily. Use a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to brush right at the back of your last molars to remove any hidden plaque.

  • Floss daily between all your teeth. Gently floss between your back molars to remove any food particles.

  • Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Try to avoid sweet snacks that encourage acid producing bacteria.

  • Wear a bespoke night guard. This will protect your molars from grinding damage whilst sleeping.

  • Visit your dentist regularly. See your dentist twice yearly for professional cleanings and checks. This will allow any small issues to be picked up early.

Pain around your back molars means there is an issue that needs addressing. Leaving your molars to cause you discomfort can cause small issues to become a big health issue. If you are experiencing constant pain, swelling or discomfort in your back teeth, contact a qualified dentist. They will diagnose the issue to ensure you receive the right treatment to keep your smile healthy.