Common Causes of Toothaches

Almost everyone will experience a toothache at one point in his or her life. Sometimes eating something extra cold or cracking down on a hard piece of food or candy can cause tooth discomfort. But if a toothache persists over a period of days it is important to know that that pain is an indicator that something is not quite right.
A toothache that lasts a while is typically result from either jaw or more severe tooth issues.
These problems could be from a crack in your tooth, possible gum disease, a cavity, or even an exposed tooth root. There are a wide variety of other conditions.
If you have chronic tooth pain visit your dentist as soon as possible so they can help you.

Dental Cavities

Dental cavities are the most common cause of toothaches. If you have a cavity, you may not initially experience pain. However, neglecting to visit your dentist on a regularly basis can cause that cavity to become worse, which almost always results in a toothache.

The easiest ways to prevent tooth cavities is to brush your teeth twice a day, use a fluoride toothpaste and make sure to floss at least once a day. Along with these easy to do tips, our Doctors strongly recommend that you also follow a balanced diet with limited snacks and participate in regular dental visits and cleanings.

Gum Disease

Gum Disease is the second most common cause of toothaches. If you smoke you may be at higher risk. Warning signs often include tender, swollen, reddened gums or gums that have pulled away from your teeth or bleed. Visit your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms. Treatments will vary, depending on the degree of gum disease, which is why it’s important to recognize the symptoms and treat them as soon as possible. Gum disease can cause toothaches in the roots of your teeth, resulting in pain when you eat anything hot, cold or sour.

If you are experiencing tooth pain come visit Dr. Nathan Doyel or Dr. Ben Aanderud for immediate attention. Here at Pacific Family Dental, your health is our number one priority.

Toothbrush

Before the invention of toothbrushes people use today, ancient man used small twigs from fibrous trees called chewsticks. By chewing on one end of the stick until the fibers of the wood were loose, ancient man would then whisk way any extra food from between their teeth by using the small fibers like a brush. Chewsticks are still used today in parts of Africa and in some Islamic countries.

The first toothbrush that resembled what we use today was invented by the ancient Chinese who created bristled toothbrushes using hair from the necks of pigs that lived in colder climates.

Despite these early advances in toothbrush technology, brushing one’s teeth for the sake of good dental hygiene didn’t catch on until much later in history. By the late 19th century, multiple companies were mass producing toothbrushes, but very few Americans actually bothered to brush their teeth. It wasn’t until Charles Cassidy Bass, a physician from Mississippi, began proposing the radical idea that a person’s teeth didn’t have to fall out just because they got older, did people begin to consider brushing on a regular basis. As part of his message about better dental health, Dr. Bass developed a brushing technique that still remains part of the curriculum at many dental schools today.

Toothpaste

The ancient Chinese, who must have had some of the nicest smiles in the ancient world, were one of the first cultures to invent toothpaste around 500 B.C. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used toothpaste, and added crushed bone and oyster shells to the mixture to provide a better abrasive base for which to brush with.

By the early 19th century, toothpaste that resembles what we use today was being developed. The first toothpaste to have soap added to it (detergent is what makes soap so frothy) was invented in 1824, and by 1873, Colgate was selling the first mass produced brand of toothpaste in a jar. The first packaging of toothpaste in a collapsible tube was marketed in 1892 as Dr. Sheffield’s Creme Dentifrice, but that would be the last great advance in the product’s development until after World War II, when such emulsifying agents and fluoride were added to the mixture.

Floss

Archeologist have found evidence suggesting that ancient civilizations used some form of dental floss, but not much is known about what materials they used. The inventor of modern day floss, New Orleans physician Levi Spear Parmly, began promoting the use of his silk made floss in 1815, and the Johnson and Johnson Company first patented a dental floss in 1898. The afore mentioned Dr. Bass was the first person to develop a nylon substitute for floss instead of silk.

Unless you list brushing your teeth as your favorite hobby, and are more likely to find a piece of floss stuck in your teeth than food, you probably have had a cavity.

When the sticky bacteria known as plaque comes into contact with sugar, the pesky plaque starts producing acids that slowly eat away at your teeth’s enamel. Brushing helps to remove the plaque from your teeth, but failing to brush regularly gives the acids produced by plague time to slowly eat away at your teeth’s enamel. The cumulative effect of those acid attacks can cause a cavity to form in a tooth that needs filling.

Dental fillings have come in many forms since the art of dentistry evolved from the days when toothaches were blamed on precocious demons and invisible worms. During the Civil War, dental fillings were made of a variety of substances, including lead, gold, silver, tin, platinum, and aluminum. During the mid-19th century, asbestos was even used to fill the space between a filling and a sensitive tooth.

Fortunately, dentistry has come a long way, and many advances in dental materials and techniques have provided dentists a variety of ways to create natural-looking smiles.

Determining which dental filling is right for you depends on a number factors. Your overall oral health, where the filling will be placed, the chewing load that particular tooth will bear, how many visits are needed to prepare the tooth for a filling, and cost can all influence the type of filling that best fits your needs.

Amalgam Fillings

The most common type of filling for over the last century, amalgam fillings are made of a stable alloy comprised from several different types of metal. Generally consisting of a combination of tin, silver, mercury, and copper, amalgam fillings are durable, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive. The use of mercury in amalgam fillings has generated some controversy in the past, but the when combined with the other elements, the mercury is render stable and safe for use. Because of their durability, amalgam fillings work well for molars located in the back of the mouth were most of the real chewing actions happens.

Amalgam fillings do have some drawbacks, including short-term sensitivity to heat and cold immediately after being implaned, and their shinny appearance causes them to stand out from your teeth’s natural color.

Composite Fillings

A mixture of glass or quartz filler combined with a resin medium, composite fillings are designed to blend perfectly with your teeth’s natural color. Composite fillings offer decent durability and can withstand a moderate amount of chewing pressure. They also require less tooth structure be removed when preparing your tooth for a filling, which could result in a smaller filling being installed than if Dr. Doyel used an amalgam filling.

Composite fillings may cost slightly more than an amalgam filling, and generally take longer to place. Composite fillings can also become stained or discolored over time.

Ionomers

Used less commonly than composite or amalgam fillings, ionomers fillings are made from a mixture of acrylic acids and glass powder to mimic the color of your tooth. Glass ionomers are fairly delicate compared to other types of fillings, and are often used in areas that experience little chewing pressure, such as between teeth and at the root structure.

If your child is losing their baby teeth it is important to recognize how important it is. To them, this is the big deal, so much so they keep track at school, of how many they have lost compared to their classmates.  Baby teeth loosen as their roots dissolve, which clears the way for permanent teeth to grow in. In general the bottom two front teeth are usually the first to go. And then usually the top two front teeth. Here are some tips to help you with your children when they lose their baby teeth.

When do children lose their baby teeth?

Most children get their first loose tooth around age 5 or 6. It can happen as young as age 4 or as old as age 8 but in general the first and second grade is when children start to lose their baby teeth.

How long does it take to fall out after it is loose?

After a baby tooth becomes loose it will take about 2-3 months to fall out. Most of the time the teeth tend to fall out on their own. This is an exciting moment for a child who could be going about their day and then all of a sudden their tooth falls out.  Sometimes teeth fall out in food or get stuck in food, or even get swallowed, which is harmless.

Loose teeth can also be extremely stubborn; sometimes they hang on by a thread for many weeks.

Is it okay for kids to wiggle them free?

Yes it is absolutely okay for children to wiggle their loose teeth. If there’s no root left, you should be able to pull it out rather easily. But don’t force the tooth, and do not ever tie it to a string and yank — if the root is only half dissolved, it could break and become infected.

Teething Pain

Losing baby teeth is usually painless. But sometimes the edge of the baby tooth cuts into the child gums and can cause pain. Pay attention if this happens because the gums could become swollen and some kids will complain that it hurts. A topical treatment of ibuprofen can help ease the pain. Please ensure your child maintains a healthy diet even if it hurts to eat or chew. Vegetable soup, pureed fruits or any healthy soft food will help them maintain overall balanced health.

Losing baby teeth can be an exciting time for your child and you. Make sure they continue to brush her teeth twice daily, and help them with flossing.

Think Positive

Sure it may sound a little hokey but studies prove that optimistic people are happier. And when you are happy you smile more. People who smile are more confident, friendly and approachable. If you look at the world as a glass half full kind of person you will instantly have a brighter outlook on life and your smile will shine from the inside out.

Embrace a Healthy Diet

Eating right is a top priority for most people in the beginning stages of the New Year. But continuing to focus on your health is important, not only for the longevity of your life but for your oral health as well.  Make eating healthy a lifestyle not a quick diet. Eating a healthy diet will benefit your smile in many ways. By choosing healthy foods you will decrease your risk for many diseases, like cancer, high cholesterol and obesity. When you take care of yourself you feel better and will naturally want to smile more.

Smile

It seems backwards to think that the best way to take care of your teeth is to smile, but the truth is the more you smile the better you feel. And you can have outstanding oral care but if you don’t smile and share yourself with others, then you won’t be able to share all of that good health habits that you practice daily. Let your self-shine with a happy healthy smile.

Drink Lots of Water

Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day is not only good for your health but it is great for your teeth. When we eat food, particles and bacteria build up on our teeth. Drinking water before, during and after a meal will help wash food particles away. This can help reduce plaque build up and the potential for cavities to form. If drinking water is hard for you because of the lack of flavor add some flavor to make it more enjoyable. We recommend adding cucumbers or fresh lemon.

Avoid Home Whitening Remedies

Home whitening remedies such as baking soda with water can damage teeth. For a real long lasting brighter smile visit your dentist for the their recommendations.

If you feel anxious and fearful about going to the dentist, there’s great news! Modern dentistry techniques and technology allows the dentists and staff at Pacific Family Dental to alleviate your anxiety while you receive the best dental care for your unique needs.

How? By partnering with each patient in a long-term relationship.

A Relationship That’s Honest

If you feel any level of fear or anxiety when considering a dental visit, we want to know about it right away. This kind of honesty regarding your fears allows us the opportunity to discuss them openly with you and provide you with the care that you need in order to have a healthy smile. We want to know not only your fears, but your expectations when it comes to great dental care. This kind of open conversation builds our relationship with you that will last for many years!

Answers to Questions

One way to build this relationship is to give us the opportunity to answer any questions you might have, ranging from simple procedures to more complicated treatment options. If you know of sensitivity that triggers a fear of the dentist, such as a specific sound or taste, let us know so that we can as you pertinent questions and provide appropriate alternatives for your highest level of comfort.

Practical Strategies

One of these alternatives to alleviate anxiety during your dental visit may involve covering you with a warm blanket or providing an MP3 player with relaxing music. Other practical ways to deal with dental anxiety include making sure you have plenty of time for the appointment so that you don’t feel rushed, a special signal that lets your dentist know that you need a break, and sedatives – such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) – administered during your appointment.

At Pacific Family Dental, we’re interested in building a long-term relationship as we achieve your dental goals. Dealing with dental anxiety is a great way for us to partner with you as we work together to keep your smile healthy and bright.  Call Pacific Family Dental at 503-925-9595 for your next appointment or request a personal appointment online so that we can begin building this important relationship to ensure your best health.

Keep Daily Dental Routines

Along with excess, the Christmas season brings chaos when it comes to regular schedules and routines. Since the increase of sugary foods during the holiday season leads to a rise in the production of plaque on teeth, daily dental routines become even more important.

Even as your schedule is interrupted with trips out of town or extra days off from work, keep the daily dental routines that ensure a healthy smile. Brush teeth after each meal, or at least once in the morning and once at night before bed. Floss once a day, combining it with the morning or evening teeth brushing. These good habits will keep away the unwanted gift of tooth decay.

Schedule Snacks and Meals

There’s more down time during the holidays, which when combined with the increase in sweet and salty snacks can be a dangerous situation when it comes to the health of your teeth. To help prevent tooth decay, keep a regular schedule of snacks and meals whenever possible.

Closely monitor the kinds of foods eaten during the day and in the evening, limiting dietary choices as much as possible to vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and whole-grains. A helpful tip includes incorporating crunch fruits and vegetables like carrots and apples during this time of year – the natural crunch helps get rid of bacteria that eventually turns to plaque.

The Best Candy for Teeth

It’s impossible to avoid candy and goodies during the Christmas season. While you consider the options at your next holiday gathering, keep in mind that while sugar as a rule isn’t good for your teeth, there are alternatives that can help keep your teeth healthy.

• Candy that contains xylitol doesn’t contain the refined sugar that results in the build-up of harmful plaque on the surfaces of teeth.
• Sugar-free gum or mints can help keep your mouth busy when faced with sugary temptations.
• Chocolate – especially dark varieties – in moderation can offer health benefits and is less likely to stick to teeth when frozen.

The types of candy to avoid during the Christmas season include those that sit a long time in the mouth, like hard, filled or chewy candies. These stick around in and around your teeth long afterward, contributing to the increased chance of tooth decay. This would definitely be an unwanted gift as you celebrate the holiday season!

Nothing can replace regular, professional dental care and treatment. As the new year approaches, give Pacific Family Dental a call at 503-925-9595 for your next appointment or request a personal appointment online!

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Symptom #1: Momentary hot or cold sensitivity to foods or drinks.
Possible Problem: May not be a problem. You may have experienced some minimal gum recession exposing sensitive portions of your teeth. Or you may be clenching your teeth while you sleep and the following day the teeth are more sensitive. There could also be a hormonal component to the sensitivity.
What to do: Try using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Brush and floss carefully and completely. If this doesn’t help, call us to check with an x-ray and other pulp testing procedures.

Symptom #2: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment.
Possible Problem: Dental work may cause temporary nerve sensitivity.
What to do: Wait 5 to 7 days. If the pain persists or worsens, call us to evaluate any nerve (pulp) damage.

Symptom #3: Lingering (20-60 minutes) pain after eating hot or cold foods.
Possible Problem: This usually means the pulp has been damaged somehow.
What to do: Root canal treatment will likely have to be performed. Spontaneous pain – especially if it wakes you up at night – can become an obvious symptom of nerve damage.

Symptom #4: Sharp pain when biting down.
Possible Problem: Biting pain alone may indicate a cracked tooth. A crown is usually needed and often the nerve has been involved. If this biting pain is accompanied by cold sensitivity, an emergency root canal problem has developed.
What to do: Call us for an immediate evaluation and/or root canal treatment. Take an over-the-counter analgesic to stop the pain. Airplane flights or dramatic altitude changes can worsen your symptoms.

Symptom #5: Constant and severe pain with pressure, swelling of gums, and sensitivity to touch.
Possible Problem: Your pulp is completely abscessed, causing the teeth and surrounding bone to become infected.
What to do: Call us immediately to save the tooth with root canal treatment. Even strong pain medication does not help at this stage.

Symptom #6: Any pain, gum boil, or swelling that happens in a tooth that has previously had an old root canal.
Possible Problem: Tooth may be re-abscessing due to an undiscovered root canal or inadequate seal of the canals or a fracture of the tooth.
What to do: See us for preventative antibiotics so the problem doesn’t worsen. Most likely the old root canal will have to be re-done. Or surgical correction may be necessary. If the root is fractured, then the tooth will be lost.

• Abscess – infection caused by severe decay, trauma, or gum disease. You may have pain and swelling. see Emergencies
• Amalgam – typical silver colored filling made of mix of silver, tin, mercury, and some other trace elements like copper. Advantages- placement easier than other materials, cost. Disadvantage- color, breaks down 10-20 years. For more information on Fillings see Services.
• Bonding – adhering tooth-colored resin materials to tooth surface to create a bond. Also, it is the process of covering of a tooth surface by enamel-like resin to correct stained or damaged teeth, by adhering a layer of plastic on the tooth.
• Bleaching (tooth whitening) – process of brightening or whitening stained, discolored, or dull teeth with an in-office power bleaching method, or dentist -supervised, at-home whitening systems. For more information on Whitening or Bleaching see Services.
• Bridge – one or more artificial teeth attached, usually on both sides, by crowns to adjacent teeth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth. Bridges may be made of gold or porcelain on gold. For more information on Bridges see Services.
• Bruxism – tooth grinding, often caused by stress. Most often done unconsciously at night.
• Composite – tooth-colored resin filling materials made of resin reinforced with silica or porcelain particles. Main advantages- tooth colored, are bonded to strengthen rather than weaken tooth. Disadvantages- They are very technique sensitive so should not be placed by dentists unfamiliar with their use. For more information on Fillings see Services.
• Cosmetic Re-contouring – reshaping the natural teeth to make them straighter or more youthful in appearance.
• Cosmetic Dentistry – the field of dentistry dedicated to the art and science of enhancing a person’s smile, overall appearance, and oral health.
• Crown -a crown, also known as a cap, is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal. For more information on Crowns see Services.
• Diastema – the space between two teeth.
• Extraction – the removal of teeth – may be simple or surgical. Oral surgery is the field of dentistry relating to extractions. For more information on Extractions see Services.
• Fistula – a bump or boil on the gum tissue, which is a tract, in which an abscessed tooth can drain.
• Fluoride – fluoride is the ion form of the element fluorine and exists abundantly in living tissue like tooth enamel. Once teeth are developed, fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay. For more information on Fluoride see Services.
• Gingiva – gum tissue
• Gingivitis – inflammation of the gum tissue caused by plaque and or tarter build-up. Precurser to periodontitis if not treated. For more information on periodontal disease (Gum Disease) see Services.
• Impacted Tooth – this is a tooth that is submerged under the gum tissue, usually associated with a wisdom tooth. It may be malpositioned and may never erupt, but may still require removal. For more information on Wisdom Teeth removal see Services.
• Implant – a titanium, screw-like appliance positioned in the bone to replace a lost tooth or teeth. A crown, bridge, or bar and denture can be fixed to the implant(s). For more information on Implants see Services.
• Inlay – a gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made tooth restoration cemented or bonded into the tooth. Inlays restore the area of the tooth between cusps and are fabricated in a dental lab from an impression of the prepared tooth. For more information on Inlays see Services.
• Night Guard – a plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage from grinding teeth at night.
• Onlay – a gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made tooth restoration cemented or bonded to the tooth. Onlays are much like inlays, but include one, two, three or even four cusps. Like inlays and crowns, onlays are fabricated in a dental lab from an impression of the prepared tooth. For more information on Onlays see Services.
• Periodontitis (Gum Disease) – advanced gum disease; inflamation of gum tissue which causes bone loss resulting in tooth loss if untreated. For more information on
• Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) see Services.
• Porcelain Laminate Veneer – a thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape and color. For more information on Veneers see Services.
• Prophy – simple cleaning of teeth above the gum line with rubber wheel and dental toothpaste.
• Root Canal Therapy – cleaning out the inside nerve of the tooth to preserve the tooth. For more information on Root Canal Therapy see Services.
• Root Planing – the removal of hard deposits (called tartar or calculus), with metal scalers, on the root surface and smoothing the root surface to allow for reattachment of the gums to the tooth and ultimately pocket reduction. For more information on Gum Disease and Root Planing see Services.
• Rubber Dam – a thin rubber sheet applied to teeth for safy and to control moisture during dental procedures.
• Sealants – a plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay. For more information on Sealants see Services.
• Veneers (Porcelain or Composite) – ultra-thin, specially made laminates bonded to teeth. (Veneers are especially useful for repairing chipped, cracked, or worn teeth.) For more information on Veneers see Services.
• Whitening (Bleaching) – the process of brightening or whitening stained, discolored, or dull teeth with in-office power bleaching method or dentist-supervised, at-home whitening systems.

Definitions of Specialties

• Denturist – A professional that strictly deals with making and fitting dentures. Most Denturists are not dentists, but have special training. Unless a Denturist is also a Dentist they cannot perform any surgical procedures. A Dentist or Oral Surgeon must perform the procedures for surgically removing the teeth and/or preparing to the bone and gums for a denture.
• Endodontist – A dentist that strictly deals with the nerve of the tooth. They may perform simple to difficult root canal treatments as well as surgical root procedures. They may perform an apicoectomy (surgically removing the tip of the root) or a root amputation (removing a root on a multi-rooted tooth). They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only endodontics.
• Oral Surgeon – A dentist that performs many aspects of surgery in and about the head area. They can perform simple to extremely difficult (Completely-Bony Impacted Third Molars (Wisdom teeth)) extractions. They also perform biopsies and removal of tumors in the head and neck region. Most place implants in the jaw for future restorations and do complex jaw realignment surgeries. They have usually 4 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only oral surgery.
• Orthodontist – A dentist that straightens teeth. They analyze a mouth and surrounding bone structures and determine where the teeth should be. If there is enough room they will manipulate the teeth and bone through the use of bands, wires, elastics, headgears and other appliances to achieve a harmonious balance between facial muscles and teeth. If there is not enough room teeth may have to be extracted to achieve the desired results. A Dentist or Oral Surgeon will perform the procedures for surgically removing the teeth. Orthodontists treat children as well as adults. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only orthodontics.
• Pedodontist – A pediatric dentist. They focus their dentistry to treating the younger patients. They will usually treat children from as little as 1 or 2 to early adulthood. They have usually 2 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only pedodontics.
• Periodontist – A dentist that deals with the supporting structures of the teeth. They diagnosis and treat gingivitis (Inflammation of the gum tissue) as well as periodontitis (Gum Disease). They may perform simple cleanings to complicated bone surgeries. They perform bone grafting where indicated and do soft tissue grafts to treat gum recession. Most also place implants in the jaw for future restoration. They have usually 3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only periodontics.
• Prosthodontist – A dentist that deals with simple to complicated full mouth restorations. They may be crowns, fixed bridges, dentures, implant cases, or mixed implant and fixed bridge cases. They sometimes encompass the majority of the patients remaining teeth. They also perform needed restorative procedures, such as obturators, after removal of cancerous portions of the mouth. They have usually 3 or more years of continuing education after graduating dental school, and limit their practice to only prosthodontics.

These are the only official specialties in the field of dentistry. Cosmetic, aesthetic, geriatric or implantology are not recognized specialties, yet!

The outer layer of each tooth, called the enamel, contains pores that can hold stains. The whitening process virtually erases stains and brightens your teeth, without damaging your enamel or your gums.

Custom trays are made from molds of your teeth. In these trays you place the whitening gel . These trays are worn for as little as one hour a day for two weeks. In-office whitening is also available at 4 to 6 times the cost.

In-office whitening is also available for more immediate results. In as little as one appointment we can whiten your teeth several shades. Schedule a Cosmetic Consult with one of our Doctors to discuss your options.