General Dentistry

3 Reasons to be Grateful for Tooth Pain

Dec 9 • 2 minute read

If you've ever experienced tooth pain, then you may be cursing us for writing a blog telling you to be grateful for it. The truth is, pain serves many important functions when it comes to maintaining good oral health. Without it, you could be at much greater risk for serious health issues like heart disease and stroke, which are both linked to oral health complications.

We'll help put a little perspective on tooth pain by giving you three big ways it can actually be beneficial for you:

  • Tooth pain tells you that you may need a root canal.

The throbbing pain you experience that brings you to the dentist, who then tells you that you need a root canal, comes from a severely infected or decayed tooth nerve. Sometimes this nerve pain saves people more time and money spent in the dentist's chair by providing early enough warning to avoid abscesses and apicoectomies, a procedure in which the tooth root is removed.

  • It can sometimes prevent having more costly dental procedures.

Dentists will tell you not to ignore tooth pain, and the primary reason is because it's an early warning system to tell you something is wrong in your mouth. It usually occurs when there is enough decay that the tooth enamel has been compromised or something is infected. Either way, the pain is telling you to see a dentist. In many cases if investigated early enough, minor pain can be a filling instead of a crown or, as mentioned in the previous example, a root canal and not an apicoetomy. Don't ignore the pain and hope it will go away, because in almost all cases it's only going to get worse and more expensive.

  • Aching around your teeth may indicate worsening gum disease.

Untreated gum disease, or periodontal disease, has been studied and linked to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and low birth weight. The truth is, many people focus only on their teeth when it comes to oral health and unfortunately neglect their gum health, which is the foundation for teeth. In the U.S., about 1 in 7 adults has some form of gum disease, from gingivitis to severe periodontitis, which makes it a serious health risk for millions. If you feel pain at the base of your teeth or around them, go see your dentist to develop a plan to treat the source.

Thanks for Reading!

We hope the next time you experience tooth pain you understand its purpose a little better. It's telling you that there's a problem and to make an appointment to get help for it. If you enjoy our dental blog, please consider liking or sharing our Facebook page.

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Christopher and Anne Thompson, DDS
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Christopher and Anne Thompson, D.D.S.
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