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Are you suffering from a toothache? Find out why your tooth might hurt.

Knowledge is power. The Dental Concepts family is committed to providing our patients with useful information to keep your teeth healthy and white. The more you know, the better armed you’ll be to fight off tooth decay.

Cavities

A cavity is a small hole in a tooth, caused by bacteria. These microorganisms are fueled by food remnants and sugar. When left unchecked, bacteria will form plaque. The acid of the plaque will begin to eat away at tooth enamel, exposing the pulp (soft inner part of the tooth with nerves). Now the bacteria begin infecting the inner tooth, and it becomes inflamed. This puts pressure on the nerve, causing discomfort or pain.

The best way to prevent against these is the common adage: brush twice a day and floss once a day. This is your best defense against bacteria forming and leaving plaque. Your teeth will be stronger, and they’ll appreciate the upkeep!

We also recommend at least 2 professional cleanings a year. It’s important to remove plaque and tartar build up, otherwise bacteria can become shielded and protected from your brushing efforts. A cavity can lead to an abscess, where the pulp inside is eaten away.

The Dental Concepts team is proud to offer top-rate dental cleanings. Schedule an appointment today and take charge of your oral health!

Gingivitis

Your gums are an important aspect of oral health. They protect the bone the supports the teeth. Keeping up gum health is important to keeping your teeth healthy. If your gums are tender and swollen, the pain can feel similar to a toothache.

Gingivitis occurs when plaque builds up around your teeth. So, naturally, flossing is going to be the best toothache cure in this instance. We cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your gumline healthy. Keep an eye out for these symptoms of gum disease:

  • Red gums
  • Swollen gums
  • Bleeding gums

If you notice of these, we recommend coming in for a checkup. The Dental Concepts team provides top notch dental hygiene services and periodontal dentistry.

TMJ Disorder

The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. Patients with TMJ disorder will have pain around that joint, by the back of the teeth or near the ears. This can be caused by numerous ways, including:

  • Bruxism, or grinding your teeth
  • Jaw injury
  • Misaligned jaw

Because of the TMJ’s proximity to your back teeth, sometimes TMJ pain can be misdiagnosed as tooth pain. If you’re not sure whether your tooth pain is related to TMJ, we’re here to help you find out.

Cracked Tooth

It is possible to accidentally crack a tooth. Like a cavity, this exposes the inner tooth (or “pulp”), leaving it open to infection. Common causes of fractured teeth include eating hard foods, grinding your teeth, and hard collision injuries.

We all know our teeth should be whole and healthy. If a crack occurs, consider coming in for a crown. Your tooth will look as good as new, and you can rest assured that your tooth will be protected!

Infected Tooth

Occasionally, an infection will get so deep that the inner tooth becomes infected. When this happen, we will need to perform a root canal. The team at Dental Concepts, Salinas, CA provides top-class root canals.

Schedule an appointment today.

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, or have any more questions regarding tooth pain, feel free to give us a call at (831) 443 – 3633. You can also contact us online anytime. We’d love to set up an appointment to help alleviate your tooth pain.