Many people don’t realize this, but when you experience any type of internal pain, it might not be coming from the place where you feel it. The human body is an incredible specimen and the mind has an interesting way of attempting to protect it. You may have a problem with your appendix, but feel the pain it’s causing closer to your stomach. Heart issues may manifest themselves in the neck, shoulder, arm, or even on the other side of the chest.
Tooth pain is a bit different, though. When you have pain in one or more of your teeth, it’s usually located at that tooth (or right next to it). For example, if you have a hole that has developed in a tooth due to a cavity or injury, you may feel the pain right along the gum line at the base of that tooth.
There are also many potential causes for tooth pain that it’s best to have a solid understanding about the possibilities. The tooth itself doesn’t have any nerve endings on it. You could scrape and tap along the enamel of your teeth and never feel anything painful.
However, every single tooth has a nerve connected to the base of it and that nerve moves down into your gums. If the tooth erodes in any spot, it could cause the nerve ending to be exposed. If you drink something cold or hot and experience pain, it very well might have to do with damage to the tooth.
Gum disease is also a common cause of tooth pain. If you have any type of gum disease, an infection, or even a cyst, it has the potential to cause pain and that may be felt along the tooth line.
Avoiding the dentist because you fear the work or the pain that it may cause to have the problem fixed is not the right solution. While the pain may subside and you could forget about it for some time, it will return and when it does, it’s most likely going to be much worse.
It’s best to address any tooth pain when you feel it. The remedy is always better than suffering.