tooth pain Archives - Champion Dental

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive When Water Touches Them?

Posted on March 7, 2023 | by mel | Leave a Comment

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Teeth can become sensitive to hot or cold water rather quickly. You may not have noticed any problems previously, but now you cannot ignore the tooth pain when you get a drink. Sensitive teeth signal that there is a problem.

Sensitive Teeth Causes

Your teeth can become sensitive to hot or cold for a number of reasons. All of them, however, point to one basic problem – your teeth (or tooth) have lost their protective enamel covering.

The outer layer of enamel on all of your teeth is very hard. Over time, various substances and bacteria can cause the outer layer of enamel to erode, which can expose the nerve underneath. There is actually another layer under the enamel called cementum that must also become eroded before the nerve becomes sensitive.

The cementum is on top of a layer called dentin and dentin is not as dense as the other two. It is made up of hollow tubes that will enable hot or cold liquids, and some food through them to touch the nerve. When it does, you will feel pain.

Several problems can cause the underlying nerve to become exposed to produce the tooth sensitivity that you feel. These problems include:

Cavities
Teeth that are fractured
Gum disease
Worn tooth enamel
Worn fillings
An exposed tooth root.

Causes of Tooth Decay

Many people have heard for most of their lives that sweets can cause cavities – but most people do not know how. The truth is that the culprit is microscopic – bad bacteria. There are over 700 different types of bacteria in your mouth.

When the bad bacteria come in contact with sugar, it turns it into an acid. This acid slowly erodes the enamel on your teeth, causing it to have pits in it. These pits, sooner or later, will reach into the cementum, then to the dentin, where liquids finally come into direct contact with your tooth’s nerve.

The sensitive teeth pain is not the end of your problem. The same bacteria that eroded your teeth are also capable of eroding your gums and more. The destruction of your teeth with an acid can be compounded if you drink a lot of sodas and fruit drinks. Both of these drinks contain acids that add to the damage done by the bacteria. Sooner or later you will develop gum disease.

Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also cause dental sensitivity. The acid from your stomach can help erode your tooth’s enamel, leading to teeth that are sensitive to hot and cold.

It is possible to have multiple teeth, or a single tooth, that is sensitive to hot and cold. This may also be the result of getting new fillings or crowns, bleaching your teeth, or gum disease causing your gums to recede, and your tooth roots being exposed.

Risk Factors

While anyone can get sensitive teeth at any age, people between the ages of 20 and 40 are the ones most likely to have that problem. Women have an increased likelihood of developing sensitive teeth.

Sensitive Teeth Treatment

Sensitive teeth can be treated in a way that will reduce the pain when you drink or eat hot or cold foods or liquids. On your own, you could try over-the-counter desensitizing toothpaste.

The dentist may also try some other options for a sensitive teeth remedy:

Fluoride gel – this is a fluoride varnish that is used to seal the sensitive teeth. It will help to strengthen your tooth’s enamel and the dentin.
Tooth repair – this process uses the same bonding material that is used to repair chips and some other dental problems. It is tooth colored and it is used to seal the dentin surface and protect it from hot and cold substances.
Gum grafts – when your gums have receded from gum disease and exposed the tooth roots, a dentist may suggest gum grafts. This surgical method replaces the lost gums to recover the roots of your teeth.
Root canal – when other methods have been tried and failed, a dentist can give you a root canal. This method removes the cap of the sensitive tooth, deadens the nerve inside that is causing the pain and puts a new crown on it. A root canal is the best method to stop sensitive teeth symptoms.

If you tend to grind your teeth at night, you are at risk of having other teeth become sensitive. A dentist can help you get a quality mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep.

If you live in the Farmers Branch, TX your sensitive teeth can be treated by Champion Dental expert dentists team. Call us at 214-747-0763 to fix an appointment. We are available on Saturdays also.

How to Treat a Stubborn Toothache?

Posted on February 7, 2023 | by mel | 5 Comments

Tired of Toothache Pain?

A toothache can be a painful thing to have to put up with for any length of time. Finding a good toothache remedy when you need it is more than helpful – it will make your whole day better.

The Causes of Tooth Pain

The best way to treat tooth pain is to understand what is causing it. This may let you deal directly with the cause rather than just dealing with the symptoms. You may be able to treat some possible causes yourself. Some causes include:

A build-up of food particles between your teeth
A sinus infection that feels like the pain is in your teeth
A cavity
A fracture in a tooth
Teeth that are erupting but lack room

Here are some remedies that will help you cope with tooth pain.

Using Benzocaine for Tooth Pain Relief

Over-the-counter medications containing benzocaine have been proven effective for pain relief. It is an antiseptic, but care needs to be given as to how it is used. You should never use more than the recommended amount, and it should never be given to children under two years old. ToothHQ warns that benzocaine has been responsible for some deaths by decreasing the amount of oxygen that the blood can transport.

Home Care Tips for Toothache Pain

Pain from a toothache could be caused by food particles caught between the teeth. The bad bacteria feed on food particles and sugar and it could be causing inflammation of the gums. You may be able to get pain relief simply by brushing and then flossing your teeth to remove the food particles.

Rinse Your Mouth

Oftentimes, things like sweets can irritate an existing tooth problem. Simply swishing some salt water around your mouth can dissolve the substances causing the severe toothache. Spit it out after swishing it around for about 30 seconds. It can also reduce swelling.

Take Over-the-Counter Medications

Taking an aspirin or other common pain relievers can help provide some relief. Some medications are better than others. Be sure not to put the medications directly on your gums as this may burn them.

Desensitizing Toothpaste

If your teeth are sensitive and things like hot and cold, or sweets, cause pain, you might want to try a toothpaste that will desensitize your teeth. You might need to brush your teeth two or three times to help reduce the pain.

A dentist can give you desensitizing toothpaste that is stronger than what you can get over the counter. This prescription fluoride toothpaste is five times stronger.

A Gum Disease

Gum disease comes in several stages. In the early stage, your gums will bleed when you brush or floss. Regular brushing, twice a day, and flossing once a day, will usually get rid of this problem.

In the next stage, pockets begin to form on the gums, and this becomes the perfect hiding place for the bacteria causing it. They produce acid when they multiply, which starts dissolving your gums, tissues that support your teeth, and the jaw bone.

What you need to know is that this causes inflammation, and so does other teeth problems. Inflammation has now been linked to more than 50 major health issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. It is also connected with several types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility, ED, and more.

Children and Tooth Pain

When children are suffering pain from a toothache, you may find that they do not want to brush their teeth. Eating may also be painful. Getting them to a dentist will enable the problem to be found and treated.

When to Call the Dentist

Some pain symptoms indicate that you need dental care quickly. Dental problems can degenerate into serious conditions if ignored. When the following symptoms are present, make an appointment with the dentist quickly.

Fever
Signs of an infection (swelling, pus, pain when eating, inflamed gums)
Difficulty swallowing or breathing.

While you may be feeling the pain of a toothache, it may be a much larger problem. A tooth could be cracked; you could have problems with gum disease, a deep cavity, or an infected tooth. All of these should be evaluated by a dentist because they are not likely to get better on their own.

Getting the Toothache Relief You Need

Toothache pain always has an underlying problem behind it. Solving this problem will prevent you from having to try and find temporary solutions that may not even work in your case. A good capable dentist can solve the real cause, which will put an end to your tooth pain. Besides that, letting a toothache go on is only likely to mean a greater cost in getting it fixed.

When you need a toothache remedy for tooth pain that does not go away, you can contact Champion Dental clinic at 214-747-0764. Our team of expert dentists can help you get the immediate pain relief you need

What You Need To Know About Nerve Damage after Oral Surgery

Posted on January 25, 2023 | by mel | 5 Comments

How Dental Nerve Damage Can Affect You

On some occasions, some types of dental surgery may result in damage to the nerve (the lingual nerve) in your lower jaw. The injury is accidental, but it does occur. This kind of dental nerve damage affects the nerves in the lower lip, the tongue, and the chin. In most cases, this type of injury is temporary and recovery takes place within eight weeks.

How It May Occur

During any oral surgical procedure on the back teeth of your lower jaw, it is possible for a lingual nerve injury to occur. It is a risk that can take place during the removal of wisdom teeth while installing dental implants, root canal treatment, and during surgeries to the face or mouth.

Pain or other sensations can be caused when a nerve is injured or severed. A lingual nerve injury can occur from many things, including from a needle when injecting the pain medication, from pulling gum tissues out of the way, from cutting the gums, placing an implant, during suturing, from a bruise on the nerve, or from compression of it – or possibly from inflammation.

There are several other ways that it may occur. This includes damage from the eruption of a blood vessel, which puts pressure on the nerve; or from the anesthetic itself damaging the nerve.

In some rare cases, the dentist may choose to leave the tips of the roots of a wisdom tooth in place. This will be done because the dentist believes that they are too close to the nerve to try and remove them. If attempted, the nerves would likely be damaged.

Nerve Damage and Dental Implants

Damage to the nerves in the jaw can rather easily occur during implant surgery. Every step of the procedure has the possibility of damage to the nerve. In addition to the above mentioned possible occasions for damage, there is also the problem of using surgical instruments to stretch tissue or to compress it while placing an implant. The risk varies based on where it is placed.

In the event of nerve damage caused by the placing of an implant, recovery may involve a few steps. Generally, the sensation of temperature and pain will recover first, and others may follow.

How It May Affect You

The resultant injury to the nerve may affect you in different ways, says the Oral Facial Surgery Institute. In many situations, various sensations may be felt, such as tingling, numbness, the feeling of something crawling on you, burning, shocks, or being extra sensitive in that area. For most people affected by nerve damage, the sensation is continuous.

The feelings may affect you by altering how you taste, chew, drink liquids, speak, kiss, and eat. These new feelings – or a lack of them – can drastically change how you do things. For some people, it can be hard to handle and may affect their quality of life. If these changes persist for more than six months, it is considered permanent.

Dental Nerve Damage Treatment

There are generally four methods of treatment for a nerve injury of this type. The National Institute of Health says that lingual nerve damage treatment is fourfold:

The use of medication (may include narcotics) – Three main types of medication may be used, including analgesics, antidepressants, and antiepileptics.
Laser treatment may help recover some sensation – The laser has been valuable to help recovery when used at low light levels. It can also be helpful when used before and after nerve surgery.
Surgery to restore nerves – Several types of surgery is used to treat damaged nerves.
Hypnosis and other therapy – Various therapies have been used with some success, including cognitive behavioral therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, relaxation therapy, and more.

Recovery Periods

When nerve damage is from the extraction of a wisdom tooth, recovery will most likely occur within the first three months. At about six months, about half of those with nerve damage will be recovered.

If the nerve damage is caused by an injection, most people recover completely within eight weeks. When recovery takes longer than that, full recovery is not likely.

Risk Factors

The greatest risk factor for potential nerve damage during a dental procedure is age, particularly in the case of wisdom teeth. After age 25, the wisdom teeth are more fully developed and the roots are longer and more complex, making it more difficult to remove them. This can make it easier for damage to occur to a nerve.

If you are experiencing some nerve pain after surgery, or tooth pain, our expert dental team at Champion dental, Farmers Branch can help you in alleviating it. Contact our office today at (214) 747-0763 for more information or to set up a consultation.

Is Your Sinus Headache Being Caused by Dental Problems?

Posted on January 18, 2023 | by mel | 3 Comments

Dental Treatment Can Reduce Your Sinus Infection Symptoms

A sinus headache can be a real problem for those who have it, especially if it is ongoing. Taking medications for sinus pain may not provide the kind of relief you need because it may have another cause – teeth problems. An infection in your teeth or gums may actually be the source of your pain, which may also be why sinus remedies are not giving you the desired result.

Infections and Sinus Problems

Your sinuses lie very close to the rear of your mouth. This closeness could easily enable an infection in your gums or teeth near the rear of your mouth to travel to your sinuses, making them become infected, too. People often allow tooth infections to continue for some time before seeking treatment.

If you do not know of a connection, you may be trying to treat the symptoms repeatedly but actually avoiding the real cause. This may be why you have ongoing headaches and have not yet found a cure for sinus headaches.

The opposite is also true. Sinus problems can lead to toothaches due to their close proximity to the upper jaw. If you have tooth pain when you have sinus problems, it is a good idea to check with a dentist to ensure that you also do not have a tooth or gum infection.

Symptoms of Tooth Pain

When your sinus cavities become infected, they are likely to put pressure on some of your upper teeth. This will cause there to be some pain when you bite, or it may produce a dull and constant pain.

Symptoms of a Sinus Headache

Many people confuse a sinus headache with a migraine. While some of the symptoms do occur in both, a sinus headache is rather easily distinguishable from a migraine. A sinus headache will include pressure or pain in your cheeks, forehead, or brow. You will also likely have a stuffy nose, nasal discharge, a fever, and an ache in your upper teeth. Fatigue will also often accompany a sinus headache, and you may have a cough and an earache.

With a migraine, however, you may feel nauseous or vomit, and bright lights and noise will bother you. The weather is also apt to affect it, as well as stress, and it will definitely limit your ability to carry out your normal duties – probably making you unable to function. The confusion between a sinus headache and a migraine is so common that about 90 percent of people who think they have a sinus headache actually have migraines.

Other Causes of Headaches

It is also possible that your headaches could be caused by a combination of sinus infections and other issues. One of them could include a temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ. This occurs when your jaw bones do not move together as they should. One side may not move as freely as the other side due to arthritis, or being worn more on that side. Grinding of the teeth can also cause it, which can result in headaches.

The presence of an abscess could also be the cause of your headaches. An abscess is caused by the formation of a pocket that becomes full of infection. It is caused by inflammation of the gums or from a decaying tooth.

Going to a Doctor

You might go to a doctor to get a solution to your sinus headaches. The medicine prescribed may help for a little while, but if the cause is dental, you will find that the headaches continue until the dental problem is taken care of. If a root canal is needed, it will remedy the infection and your sinus headaches will be greatly reduced.

The Dental Cure

Although you may be given antibiotics for the infection, if the tooth is not fixed, you will continue to have sinus headaches. The tooth or gum problems need to be remedied before you will get a solution to your headaches.

When you have a sinus headache that is the result of an infected tooth, the tooth will need to be repaired first. This is going to require a root canal, if it is determined that the tooth is salvageable. The cap will be removed, and the nerves in the tooth will be destroyed. A disinfectant will be applied, and then the tooth will be sealed. After this, a temporary cap will be put on it until the new crown can be made.

If you have sinus headaches and you live near to Farmers Branch, Texas , DFW area, you can be examined for dental problems by our renowned Champion Dental Clinic expert team of dentists. For more information or to set up a consultation, contact our office today at (214) 747-0763.

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