Can exercising too much cause a toothache?
It's true
, dig out the 14 reasons behind your toothache
As the saying goes, "Toothache is not a disease, it hurts." Toothache attacks can make it difficult to chew, speak, concentrate, and even sleep at night.
Drinking cold water, chewing peppercorns, taking painkillers... As everyone knows, carrying it raw will only aggravate the underlying problem, and untreated toothache may eventually lead to tooth loss.
The US "Health Journal" website summarizes 14 reasons for toothache.
It is easier to solve the problem with active treatment before the toothache becomes serious.
Cause 1: Tooth decay
It is when a tooth has eroded a hole, i.e. the hard outer surface (enamel) of the tooth has been eroded.
Dental caries may initially show no symptoms, but can eventually lead to toothache, especially if the cavity becomes very large and close to the nerves within the tooth.
Dental caries is the most common cause of toothache.
Severe caries usually cause severe pain enough to wake you up and worse when you lie down.
Mild caries are easy to overlook, but when a patient can't stand the pain, root canal treatment is needed.
Reason 2: Exercising too much
Exercise is good for your physical and mental health, but can it hurt your teeth?
According to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Sports Medicine and Science, there is a possibility.
The researchers found that endurance-trained triathletes had a greater risk of tooth erosion (loss of enamel due to acid on the teeth) than people who didn't exercise.
The longer they exercised each week, the more likely they were to have multiple cavities.
Dentists speculate that this has something to do with their reduced saliva production.
Saliva, which is more than 90% water, is exhaled through the mouth.
Dry mouth is at risk for caries because bacteria are adapted to thrive in this environment.
If you regularly perform long, strenuous training sessions, sweat a lot, and breathe heavily, you can become dehydrated and cause toothache.
Reason 3: The filler is falling off
If too much force is applied to the area, or if the material breaks, the filling in the carious tooth can fall off.
Rot around or under the filling can also cause breakage.
Some patients don't even feel the filling come off until they bite into the food.
As they chew, food is pushed into this area, filling the cavity and causing stress.
This area is also sensitive to hot and cold sour and sweet.
Cause 4: Abscess
When food particles get caught between your teeth and you continue to chew, they push the food into your gums.
Over time, this creates inflammation and pain.
It can cause abscesses along the gum line, where food and debris that remains rot and can breed.
You may notice swelling or even pus in the area of the abscess.
The sooner you treat it, the better, because untreated abscesses can lead to gum disease.
Flossing your teeth daily can solve this problem.
Reason 5: Broken Tooth
A toothache can be caused by a cracked or broken tooth.
Often it is not the whole tooth that breaks, but a piece.
Biting hard on something hard can cause the teeth to break.
Toothaches can occur if a broken tooth is not completely lost or removed in time.
Depending on the severity of the fracture, patients may need crowns, or implants to replace severely damaged teeth.
Reason 6: Wisdom Teeth
If your wisdom teeth are trying to pop out of an awkward spot in your gums, or if there isn't enough room, it's sure to cause a toothache.
Once they penetrate, there is an increased risk of gum inflammation or infection because wisdom teeth are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss.
Although the patient feels pain and discomfort, it is not as severe as severe caries.
Many people benefit from having their wisdom teeth removed, while for others, the procedure may be unnecessary or even risky, depending on where the wisdom teeth are located.
If wisdom teeth are causing the pain, try taking ibuprofen.
Reason 7: Grinding your teeth at night
Most people who grind their teeth at night don't realize they're doing it.
Teeth grinding is also associated with symptoms such as headaches, facial muscle pain, and a stiff jaw.
Grinding can even cause teeth to break.
Although some patients will be required to wear a mouthguard, this method does not always work.
The patient woke up unaware that the mouthguard had fallen off.
In this case, Botox injections are a good option, which blocks the same amount of force from the muscles that move the jaw.
Many dentists are trained to use Botox, which should be injected every 3 to 4 months.
Reason 8: Bite your jaw when you're stressed
Toothache from grinding or clenching your jaw is global, or at least one side of your jaw, not a specific tooth.
Even if you don't grind your teeth at night, it's possible to clench your teeth during the day.
This is a very common stress response, and dentists know how to teach their patients to relax.
The easiest way to do this is to take repeated deep breaths, which will help the facial muscles relax.
Cause 9: Temporomandibular joint disorders
The temporomandibular joint joins the side of the head and jaw, and it allows people to yawn, chew, and talk.
Dysfunction of this joint can cause jaw pain that feels a lot like a toothache.
This pain feels similar to grinding or clenching your teeth, but it is located near the ear.
A clear sign of a TMJ disorder is a clicking or popping sound when a patient tries to open their mouth.
The pain may go away on its own, and the dentist will recommend ice to the painful area.
If you have a temporomandibular joint disorder, you should minimize extra jaw movement, such as chewing gum.
Some patients require surgery, although it is rare.
Reason 10: Gum recession
Some people with sensitive teeth experience gum recession, which causes the enamel on the gum line to wear away.
It is as if the tooth surface is not covered and exposed to the external environment.
The pain doesn't last, but it hurts every time the tooth comes into contact with hot or cold food.
Brushing with a professional anti-sensitivity toothpaste (such as Sensodyne) can alleviate this problem, but stick with it.
Cause 11: Gum infection
While a gum infection doesn't cause pain inside the tooth, it's difficult for the body to differentiate between toothache and gum pain.
A mild form of gum disease called gingivitis causes red and swollen gums, causing some discomfort.
Regular brushing and flossing can nip this toothache in the bud.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease.
Patients can take pain medication for a short period of time.
The dentist will decide whether antibiotics are needed to treat the infection or for additional treatment.
Reason 12: The tooth was hit hard
Toothache can also be caused by a softball or baseball hit in the jaw.
Within the limited space of each tooth are arteries, veins, and nerves, and damage to the tooth can cause swelling.
As the swelling inside the tooth has nowhere to go, pressure builds up and the brain interprets it as a toothache.
Most minor tooth damage goes away in a few days, as long as you don't bite too hard.
Reason 13: Teeth need straightening
Anyone who has had orthodontic surgery knows that the procedure can be painful and uncomfortable.
Anti-inflammatories are usually helpful within 24 to 48 hours after orthodontic surgery.
Cause 14: Sinusitis Attacks
If you have tooth pain during cold or hay fever season, it may be related to the sinuses.
The base of the sinuses is right on top of the teeth.
The sinuses fill with mucus and can cause pain above the teeth.
Another common way to tell if this toothache is sinus-related is that the pain isn't limited to just one tooth.
If it is caused by sinusitis, several teeth in this area can be sensitive.
In this case, the best thing to do is to clear the infection.
Compile / Wang Haiyang