I have tooth pain

Question:

Hi, I have been experiencing some weird tooth pain.  It comes as quickly as it goes and does not seem to last long( a few seconds) and has happened three times in the last 2 days.  It is not a throb pain, more a constant pain if that makes sense.  It feels like someone is touching ice cream to my tooth in the whole tooth but 10x worse, and is one of the worst pains I have ever experienced.  I am going to the dentist, I am just curious on your opinions.  Had a cavity filled in the tooth a couple months ago so not too sure why it would hurt all a sudden.  Thanks in advance.

Answer:

Thanks for submitting your question with us.  Now, the main piece of information that will determine the diagnosis of your tooth is:

Is the Pain provoked?

• Does the pain have a trigger point?  For instance, is it painful when you eat hot or cold food or drinks.
• Does the pain occur sporadically and unprovoked?  Does the pain come and goes as it pleases with no trigger point?  For example, the tooth becomes painful randomly throughout the day.
• Does the pain come when you bite down into food?  Or does the pain come when you open your mouth after biting down on food?

You’re probably wondering, why all the questions?  But believe it or not, answers to these simple questions can guide us down the right path to a correct diagnosis.  Let’s examine each answer:

Yes, the pain is provoked by eating cold/hot food or drink.

Then you have reversible pulpitis.  This means that you have slight inflammation of your pulp inside of your tooth.  This is caused by

• Bacteria/decay
• A recent deep filling without a protective base (Deep restorations need a protective layer underneath it to protect the tooth nerve/pulp)
• Recent deep cleaning

Reversible Pulpitis Treatment

Luckily, this can be easily treated by making a slight adjustment to the filling

No, the pain is not provoked by anything and occurs on its own

You may have irreversible pulpitis.  This means the pulp is damaged beyond repair.  This means that bacteria have leaked into your tooth nerve/pulp and are now irritating the tooth and needs to be removed to avoid serious infection.  Some signs of irreversible pulpitis include:

• Spontaneous, unprovoked pain
• On and off pain
• Continuous pain
• Pain lasts even after food/drink/or stimulus is removed
• Lying down or bending over produces pain

Irreversible Pulpitis Treatment

The treatment for irreversible pulpitis is a root canal treatment.

I feel pain when I bite down

Again, this indicates reversible pulpitis and can be treated by adjusting your filling.

I have pain when I open up after biting down

This indicates a fracture of the tooth.

Fractured Tooth Treatment

Treatment for this depends upon the extent of the fracture and can include anything from a new filling, or a root canal, or even an extraction.

For more information on tooth pain, check out our article here.

Also, see below for a descriptive chart of how to diagnose tooth pain.

We hope this helps and good luck,

Save My Smile Team

Is there an alternative to toothpaste?

Question:

I am going on a mission to Malawi, Africa.  We will be handing out toothbrushes to 1000 children.  Do you have any step by step posters to help illustrate how to brush your teeth? Also, what common products could they use when toothpaste is not available? Thank you any help would be appreciated.

Answer:

Feel free to check out our article on Brushing for a step-by-step guide on how to properly brush.  There is a graphic included with the article that illustrates the correct way to effectively brush.

Now, in response to a toothpaste alternative, let’s first discuss the purpose of brushing your teeth and the role of toothpaste (dentifrice).  The ultimate goal of brushing is to remove bacteria and debris (i.e. food debris) from the tooth surfaces.  We want to eliminate food, more specifically sugar, from our tooth surfaces so that bacteria won’t have the opportunity to grow and create harmful substances which could eventually damage our teeth.  This process of removing the above mentioned substances is accomplished with the toothbrush alone!  A toothpaste only adds to the experience of brushing our teeth.

A toothpaste is composed of several parts to enhance the toothbrushing experience and to encourage individuals to brush.  These parts include:

• Abrasive –used to more effectively clean the teeth.  For example an abrasive sponge is used to more effectively remove dirt and grime from a kitchen countertop.
• Detergents
• Flavoring agents – makes the toothpaste “taste good”.  The tolerable taste encourages individuals to brush more.
• Caries (cavity) preventive substance – some toothpastes contain Flouride or Triclosan.  These additional substances are used to strengthen the tooth enamel to aid in preventing cavities or gingivitis.

In a worst case scenario, if no toothpaste is available, baking powder can be used.  If this substance is not available, you can still effectively brush your teeth with just WATER!!  Remember, the goal is to remove bacteria and debris.  Toothpaste just adds to this process.

Hope these tips help out and good luck,

SaveMySmile Team

Flossing Basics

Oh the dreaded floss.  We all know that we need to do it…everyday that is.  So why don’t most people floss?  It is a time-consuming task; however the benefits of flossing are MORE than worth the additional five minutes it takes to complete the tedious task.

So why floss your teeth?

• Mouthwash and a toothbrush can’t reach every surface of your teeth! Flossing removes the food buildup and bacteria that is located between your teeth.
• Most cavities arise from bacteria located between the teeth – This area is often overlooked. Many feel that if they can’t see it, then it isn’t a problem. However, if given the chance, microscopic bacteria can and will accumulate and begin the demineralization process of enamel slowly leading to cavities, pain, and bacterial invasion.
• You don’t want bleeding gums do you? – Bleeding gums is a sign of inflammation! If you don’t floss regularly, you can expect some minor bleeding when you start out. But don’t quit. Bleeding gums indicates gingivitis, and even worse periodontitis. If severe enough, this will lead to recession of the gums and loose teeth. Flossing removes irritating bacteria from being allowed to infiltrate your gums and cause infection.

Proper steps to flossing

• Start off with a long strand of floss (around 15 inches or so) and wrap it around each middle finger
• Use your index finger to guide the floss between your teeth
• Once the strand of floss is between your teeth, follow the curvature of each tooth in an up and down motion about 2-3 times. Don’t be afraid to push the floss under the gums, this is a critical area that needs to be cleaned.
• Remove floss and repeat with each tooth, making sure to use a clean section of the floss each time.

How often should I floss?

It’s best to floss a minimum of once a day

I tried to floss and my gums started bleeding, should I stop?  Is something wrong?

Do not stop.  This is a sign of inflammation and indicates that you haven’t flossed in awhile.  Continue to floss everyday and the bleeding will stop.

Have more questions?  Feel free to leave a commit or submit a question to be included in our FAQ’s.

Happy Flossing!

Cavity Basics

What is a cavity/tooth decay?

A cavity is an open pathway in the tooth which is caused by bacterial invasion.  In the dental world, it’s referred to as a carious lesion.  The severity of the cavity/carious lesion will determine which type of restoration is needed.

How would I know if I have a cavity?

If you experience pain in the tooth, more than likely it can be attributed to bacterial invasion/cavity.  However, keep in mind that tooth pain can be attributed to several other factors such as periodontal disease.  The best way to tell if you have a cavity is to visit the dentist.  Sometimes, cavities occur between our teeth, and the only way to determine its presence is on a radiograph/x-ray. 

What can be done to prevent cavities?

Brush, brush, and brush some more!!  If you brush 3 times a day, or even better, after each meal, you will remove food debris and other agents that act as magnets for bacteria.  If you are unable to brush that often, be sure to chew gum with Xylitol after your meals.  This will aid in remineralizing your enamel after a meal, thus making it stronger and more resistant to bacterial invasion.  Please see our article on gum with xylitol for more information.

Please see our article on cavity prevention for more information on maintaining a healthy mouth.