Why Do My Teeth Hurt? Let’s Find Out!

Excerpt: Are 1 or more of your teeth hurting? Did they all start hurting at once, or was there a progression?

Posted on: March 28, 2022

All Of My Teeth Hurt Suddenly

Tooth pain can be a result of many different oral issues. If you have dental pain that lasts for more than 24-48 hours, even pain that goes away and comes back, it is considered a serious issue.

Are 1 or more of your teeth hurting? Did they all start hurting at once, or was there a progression? Is the pain sharp and sudden, or dull and throbbing? Pain is an early indicator of many dental issues, so it might be difficult to diagnose if you only have pain as your symptom.

Why Are My Teeth Hurting?

If your teeth are hurting suddenly and unexpectedly, there are a number of causes:

Sensitivity To Temperature change

Have you ever bit into an ice cream cone and immediately felt pain or discomfort? This is due to the sudden change in temperature. Especially, if you have issues with thin enamel, it could be an ongoing issue for you. If you just experienced it randomly, you can wait before making an appointment. Teeth sensitivity may not even have a cause, and it can go away on its own.

Our Advice

Try a dental product specifically designed to reduce tooth sensitivity such as:

Sensodyne toothpaste (it contains the proven sensitivity reduction agent potassium nitrate 5.0%)
Colgate Sensitive Pro-relief (its active ingredients are Arginine 8% w/w, Sodium Monofluorophosphate 1.1% w/w, Calcium Carbonate 35% w/w.)
Crest Sensitivity toothpaste (its active ingredient is Stannous Fluoride 0.454% (0.14% W/V Fluoride Ion).

Gum Recession

Your teeth don’t just end at the gum line, the root of the tooth extends quite a ways past that. If you have gum recession, it can expose all these parts that are normally protected by the gum. You will most likely feel pain since the root of the tooth will be exposed and sensitive. You may also be experiencing pain from another condition like gum disease, which should also be checked out.

Our Advice

If the gum recession is still in its early stages, you may be able to reverse it, however, if it is at the point where it is causing pain or discomfort, immediately make a dentist appointment.

Enamel Erosion

It’s been suggested that at least 12 percent of people experience, “dentin hypersensitivity”. This can lead to more vulnerable enamel that is significantly more prone to erosion than “normal”. If you have an acidic diet or eat lots of sugar, this will make the issue even worse. Thinner enamel means more sensitive teeth and less protection. If you have thin enamel and you get a cavity, you will be at greater risk of infection.

Our Advice

You should prioritize eating a less acidic, carb-heavy diet. You don’t need to eat keto, but less sugary junk food is usually a good thing.

Tooth Decay

If you start to notice blackish/brownish spots or discoloration on your teeth, you should make a dentist appointment immediately. If it is a minor cavity, you may not even need any treatment, but for major cavities, you will have a good amount of options. One fairly easy fix for tooth decay is bonded fillings.

Our Advice

With cavities, it’s better to prevent them than treat them. Eat a balanced diet, practice good oral care 2-3 times a day, and get dental checkups every 6 months!

Gum Infection

Gum disease (gingivitis) is infamous for causing lots of different symptoms, pain being one of them. If you notice that your gums seem to bleed easily, are red, swollen, or puffy, you may be experiencing gum disease. If your symptoms become increasingly more serious, you could be developing periodontitis which is irreversible using conventional homecare methods. However, if you are diligent and notice the symptoms of gingivitis early you can likely reverse it without issue in a few weeks.

Our Advice

If your gum disease is causing you pain or discomfort, you should immediately make an appointment. However, if the symptoms are only mild, try cutting back on sugar, and improving your oral care. Your gums may be prone to bleeding, so be gentle on them. If you notice a large amount of blood, it may be time to make an appointment.

Cracked Tooth, Filling, Or Crown

Teeth can break due to no fault of our own (generally, major accidents, or sports injuries). However, if you have not taken care of your teeth well their durability could be compromised. This means they can potentially break from normal tasks, like eating. If you’ve broken a crown, or filling, try to save it if you can, and immediately make an appointment.

Our Advice

Having excellent dental care will help prevent this. Also, you can try fluoride dental products, if your dentist agrees it’s a good idea, to help fortify your teeth.

Sinus infection

Sinus infections can cause you to feel pain in your teeth and jaw, you may be thinking this is a dental issue, but you may just be sick.

Our Advice

Get yourself checked for Covid-19, if you are negative, head to your dentist, and maybe a doctor to see what they would recommend.

Grinding Teeth (Bruxism)

Teeth weren’t met to be ground together for extended amounts of time. Bruxism can cause a lot of issues if it is severe or ongoing.

Our Advice

Talk to your dentist about what you can do, it could be a symptom of stress, or you may need a mouth guard for protection.

Dental work

If you had recent dental work, this can make your teeth more sensitive.

Our Advice

If it is from a procedure, it should be temporary, avoid hot or cold food and drink for a few days. If the problem persists or gets worse, make an appointment.

When Should I See A Dentist?

If your teeth suddenly become sensitive in a new area, and the problem lasts for a few days, you should see a dentist. The treatment option may be as unobtrusive as switching to a toothpaste designed specifically to reduce sensitivity.

However, there are some scenarios that are significantly more critical:

Toothache that lasts for more than 48 hours
Throbbing or sharp, aching pain that doesn’t subside
Migraine, or thunderclap headache that extends to your teeth
Fever that seems to coincide with your toothache

How Can I Stop My Teeth From Hurting?

Your teeth may not even need a cure, and the pain will just go away, depending on the cause. However, there is no surefire way to stop all pain from happening in your teeth, but you can prevent significant amounts of pain. The best thing to do is to have regular good quality dental care.