Gingivitis is unhealthy for your entire body
The pain can be excruciating, but also milder, or nagging. Or you only have pain in a molar or tooth when you eat something sweet, cold or hot. These are the main causes of toothache and the solutions.
Ouch! An abscess
Do you have pain when chewing or when you push on a tooth? Then you may have an abscess: a buildup of pus under the gums. If a cavity or gum disease is not treated in time, bacteria can cause inflammation in the soft part of the gums. Because the pus cannot get out, an abscess develops. The inflammation can even cause your cheek or neck to swell completely. An abscess can be so painful that you don’t know where to look for it, but it can also cause mild pain.
That’s how you get rid of it
The treatment depends on the location and the extent of the inflammation. For example, a starting or small abscess can be remedied with a course of antibiotics. Sometimes a thorough cleaning under the gums is necessary. If the abscess is large, the dentist will make a small cut in the gums to allow the pus to escape. Another option: a root canal treatment.
Even worse: root tip inflammation
An inflammation at the root tip of a tooth is no fun either. Usually this hurts a lot, but there are also people who don’t notice it. Such an inflammation can arise through a hole, through which bacteria can enter the tooth. It is also possible that some ‘dirt’ remains behind during a root canal treatment. Root tip inflammation does not go away on its own and can have major consequences for surrounding teeth and molars. So let’s treat!
That’s how you get rid of it
After giving a local anesthetic, the dentist drills a hole up to the root point, removes the inflammation and closes the root with a filling.
Hot, cold, sweet, sour: pain!
If your gums are inflamed or if you brush too hard or incorrectly often, the gums can recede. Result: the necks and roots of your teeth and molars are exposed. There is no glaze on them and so they are very sensitive to cold, heat, sour and sweet. And not only that: in the exposed part it is also much easier to create cavities.
That’s how you get rid of it
If the problem is not too serious, you can use a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It leaves a thin protective layer on the sensitive parts of your teeth. The dentist can also make a plastic ‘dental’ that you slide over your own teeth after you have filled them with this toothpaste. In this way you increase the processing time and therefore the effect. In addition, it can help to rinse your mouth daily with a neutral mouthwash with fluoride. If that doesn’t work, the dentist can apply a fluoride varnish. Because that paint wears off again, the treatment will have to be repeated every time. In case of serious complaints, the dentist can provide the exposed necks with a filler (for example, composite).
Getsie, a hole
Cavities (caries) are the most common cause of toothache. With a starting cavity, you will have pain when eating or drinking something sweet, cold or warm. Over time, you may experience a continuous and nagging pain. Cavities are caused by the bacteria in dental plaque. Untreated cavities can eventually affect the nerve of the tooth – ouch! That nerve must then be removed with a root canal.
That’s how you get rid of it
The treatment is simple and we are all familiar with it: the dentist drills out the hole and fills it, for example with composite.
Blood, pain and tears
Are your gums red, swollen and bleeding occasionally? Then it’s ignited! You have gingivitis (first stage) or periodontitis (more advanced). Sometimes, but not always, it hurts. Gingivitis is unhealthy for your entire body. The bacteria – and the toxins they produce – can end up anywhere in the body via the bloodstream and cause, for example, (partial) cardiovascular diseases. For that reason alone, you should always have a gum disease treated, even if you may have to shed a tear…
That’s how you get rid of it
A dental hygienist or periodontist will clean your teeth below the gumline. Sometimes it is necessary to cut loose a piece of gum. After that, it is important to keep your teeth clean: brush and floss well and use a toothpick after eating.
This article previously appeared in +Gezond.
Sources):
- Plus Healthy