| Symptom |
Possible Problem |
What To Do |
| Momentary sensitivity to hot or cold foods. |
If the discomfort lasts only moments, sensitivity to hot and cold foods generally does not signal a serious problem. The sensitivity may be caused by a loose filling or by minimal gum recession which exposes small areas of the root surface. |
Try using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Brush up and down with a soft brush; brushing sideways wears away exposed root surfaces. If this is unsuccessful, see your general dentist. |
| Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment. |
Dental work may inflame the pulp, or nerves, inside the tooth, causing temporary sensitivity. |
Wait four to six weeks, If the pain persists or worsens, see your general dentist. |
| Sharp pain when biting down on food. |
There are several possible causes of this type of pain: decay, a loose filling or a crack in the tooth. There may also be damage to the pulp tissue inside the tooth. |
See a dentist for evaluation. If the problem is pulp tissue damage, your dentist may send you to an Endodontist. Endodontists are dentists who specialize in pulp-related procedures. Your Endodontist will perform a procedure that cleans out the damaged pulp and fills and seals the remaining space. This procedure is commonly called a "root canal." |
| Lingering pain after eating hot or cold foods. |
This probably means the pulp has been damaged by deep decay or physical trauma. |
See your Endodontist to save the tooth with root canal treatment. |
| Constant and severe pain and pressure, swelling of gum and sensitivity to touch. |
A tooth may have become abscessed, causing the surrounding gum and bone to become infected. |
See your Endodontist for evaluation and treatment to relieve the pain and save the tooth. Take over-the-counter analgesics until you see the Endodontist. |
| Dull ache and pressure in upper teeth and jaw. |
The pain of a sinus headache is often felt in the face and teeth. Grinding of teeth, a condition know as bruxism, can also cause this type of ache. |
For sinus headache, try over-the-counter analgesic or sinus medicine. For bruxism, consult your dentist. If pain is sever and chronic, see your physician or Endodontist for evaluation. |
| Chronic pain in head, neck or ear. |
Sometimes pulp-damaged teeth cause pain in other parts of the head and neck, but other dental or medical problems may be responsible. |
See your Endodontist for evaluation. If the problem is not related to the tooth, your Endodontist will refer you to an appropriate dental specialist or a physician.
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