Dental Pain Explained

by Danni Vickers

Often people experience dental pain due to different reasons, however the most common reason for any tooth ache or dental pain is caused by inflamed gums or irritated nerves in your teeth. Inflamed tissues in the mouth can also contribute to toothache and sore gums. Dental pain can be caused by many different reasons such as, cavities, broken teeth, infected tooth pulp, and bacteria infections.

Because diseases like cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis involve a bacterial infection, that bacteria can be spread to others during kissing, from sharing straws, or when sharing a toothbrush.

Dental pain is a symptom that something is wrong and should be checked by a dentist. The only way to stop the pain permanently is to have the problem corrected. A sever abscess is not only very painful but can also lead to death if left untreated.

One of the most common reasons for a toothache is caused by cavities. When bacteria build's up in the mouth plaque forms around the teeth. The bacteria in the plaque convert the sugars in food to acids that eat away at the protective enamel layer of the tooth If the cavity is left untreated, it will continue to grow and eventually reach the nerve of the tooth causing, in most cases, severe pain.

Infections of the gum, or periodontal disease, are also another common cause of dental pain. The same plaque that contributes to cavities can irritate the gums, making them inflame then recede to expose the cementum. Periodontal disease can lead to chronic inflammation of the tissues in the mouth.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are two basic types of periodontal disease. Gingivitis is the most common gum disease and is characterized by an inflammation of the gums, or gingiva. When plaque forms on teeth, the adjacent gums become swollen and red and can become extremely painful. Their are several types of Gingivitis and all must be treated to relive pain.

Ordinary Gingivitis - swollen red gums that bleed easily and bad breath. If left untreated the condition can progress.
Drug-induced Gingivitis - a side effect of many drugs.
Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis - an acute infection characterized by tissue death, spontaneous bleeding, rapid pain onset and a bad mouth odor.
Hormone-Influenced Gingivitis - Affects pregnant women, children, and women using oral contraceptives.
Desquamative gingivitis - Typically a result of an allergic reaction or of skin diseases. Peeling gum tissue with a red and painful surface.

Until one can seek dental care, over-the-counter ibuprofen will help relieve dental pain. Motrin Ibuprofen is effective for dental pain because ibuprofen reduces pain caused by inflammation. You may also find that rinsing your mouth with warm salty water may also help.