Is It Time to Have Your Toothache Checked?


Is It Time to Have Your Toothache Checked?

By Wright Smiles

Toothaches occur for different reasons. Since people use their mouths for speaking, eating, and smiling, teeth undergo heavy weathering. The amount of substances that pass through the mouth is overwhelming. To put it in perspective, let’s examine the different ingredients and properties of a typical cheese burger; the burger patty contains fat and sodium, the bread contains sugar, the tomatoes and onions contain acid. When you eat a cheeseburger, the experience is a marriage of these flavors coming together as a hearty meal. But behind the scenes, these ingredients can feed bacteria that produce acid, which breaks down your teeth’s protective layer of enamel. When tooth enamel is compromised, it can allow bacteria to enter the tooth, causing irritation and decay. This irritation, or toothache, can warn you of an impending infection, and Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron suggest visiting their office as soon as a toothache occurs to prevent it from becoming full blown tooth decay.

Do Your Teeth Hurt When Chewing?

Teeth are covered in enamel to protect them from bacteria and irritants such as hot and cold food and beverages. Enamel is the outer layer of a tooth’s crown (upper section of a tooth, above the gum line) that protects the tooth’s main structure, called dentin, and the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth (pulp). Healthy tooth enamel can effectively withstand the pressures of biting and chewing while remaining strong enough to repel bacteria and block sensations from hot and cold foods. If you experience pain when you bite and chew, then chances are the enamel on your teeth has weakened due to excessive acid exposure. In most cases, enamel erosion can be reversed to prevent tooth decay with fluoride treatments, which strengthens enamel, and improved hygiene habits.

Do Your Teeth Hurt When Eating Sweet/Hot/Cold Food?

If you are experiencing pain when eating sweet, hot, and/or cold foods, then chances are bacteria has made it past the enamel. There are over 600 identified types of bacteria in the mouth, and enamel acts as a protective barrier to protect your teeth from the germs. Tooth enamel needs a steady supply of minerals, such as calcium, to remain strong and healthy enough to protect your teeth. When germs form plaque and cling to your teeth, the film protects the bacteria as the germs create acid and other harmful substances. Weak enamel leaves teeth vulnerable to bacterial substances that could lead to cavities and gum disease.

About Your Southlake Dentists:

As a native Texan, Dr. Gregory Wright opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.