Feeling pressure on a tooth when biting down can be a common experience. This sensation might simply be the normal awareness of your teeth making contact, or it could signal an underlying dental issue that requires attention. Recognizing the difference helps determine if professional care is needed.
Understanding the Sensation
A normal biting sensation involves feeling the contact points of your teeth without discomfort. This is the natural way your mouth processes food and applies force. However, when the pressure becomes problematic, it can manifest as sharp, sudden pain, a dull ache that lingers, or an intermittent sensation that comes and goes. The pain might be localized to one tooth or spread across an area, and could also be accompanied by sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, indicating an irritated nerve within the tooth.
Common Dental and Oral Causes
Several issues directly involving your teeth and gums can lead to pressure when biting.
Tooth decay can expose the sensitive inner layers of the tooth, causing discomfort when pressure is applied. A large cavity can also trap food, contributing to pressure and pain, especially if the decay irritates the tooth’s pulp, which contains nerves.
Cracked tooth syndrome involves an incomplete fracture in a tooth. When you bite down, the two parts of the cracked tooth can move independently, causing a sharp, fleeting pain, often worse when the biting pressure is released. This movement irritates the nerves inside the tooth.
Loose or damaged dental fillings can also cause pressure or pain when biting. If a filling becomes loose or has a crack, it can create a gap where bacteria can enter, leading to new decay or sensitivity beneath the restoration. Additionally, a filling that is too “high” or uneven can cause excessive pressure on that tooth when biting, leading to discomfort.
A dental abscess, which is a pocket of pus from a bacterial infection, can form at the root of a tooth or in the gums. This infection causes inflammation and swelling within the bone, leading to significant pressure and pain when biting. The pain from an abscess is often described as severe, constant, and throbbing.
Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, involves inflammation and infection of the gums and supporting structures around the teeth. As the disease progresses, it can destroy the ligaments that hold teeth in place, making teeth loose and painful when biting down. Receding gums, a symptom of periodontitis, expose the sensitive tooth roots, which can also cause pain when pressure is applied.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, exerts excessive force on teeth and their supporting structures. This constant pressure can wear down tooth enamel, create microfractures, and increase sensitivity, leading to discomfort when biting. Many individuals grind their teeth unknowingly, often during sleep.
Other Contributing Factors
Sometimes, the pressure you feel when biting down stems from issues not directly involving a tooth or gum infection.
Malocclusion, or a “bad bite,” occurs when your upper and lower teeth do not align properly when you bite together. This uneven alignment can cause certain teeth to bear more force than others, leading to localized stress, wear, and pain.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull. Dysfunction in this joint can lead to various symptoms, including referred pain that feels like it originates in the teeth, especially when chewing or moving the jaw. This can be due to muscle tension, misalignment of the jaw, or the complex network of nerves shared between the jaw and teeth.
Sinus issues can also cause tooth pressure, particularly in the upper teeth. The roots of the upper teeth are located close to the maxillary sinuses. When these sinuses become inflamed or infected, the pressure can build up and push against the tooth roots, causing discomfort that can be mistaken for a dental problem. This pain often affects multiple upper teeth and may worsen when bending over or moving your head.
Referred pain means that pain is felt in one area of the body but originates from another. For instance, pain from other teeth, ear infections, or even certain types of headaches can be perceived as pressure or pain in a specific tooth. The trigeminal nerve pathway, which serves both the teeth and other facial structures, can transmit pain signals, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact source without professional evaluation.
When to Seek Professional Advice
If you experience persistent pressure or pain when biting down, it is advisable to seek professional dental advice. Warning signs that warrant a visit to the dentist include sharp pain, swelling in the gums or face, fever, a foul taste in your mouth, or difficulty eating. Any pain that is severe, throbbing, or does not subside should be evaluated.
Only a dental professional can accurately diagnose the underlying cause of tooth pressure. They will conduct a thorough examination, which may include X-rays, to identify the source of the discomfort. Treatment approaches will depend on the diagnosis, and might involve a simple adjustment of a filling, a new restoration, a root canal, or management of gum disease. General preventive measures, such as maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, are important for overall dental health and can help identify potential issues early.