Feeling unusual tooth discomfort when biting down is common. This discomfort can range from mild sensitivity to sharp, persistent pain. Understanding the potential reasons for this symptom is a helpful first step. While often minor, it can signal a more significant dental problem requiring professional attention.
Common Reasons for the Sensation
Tooth decay, or a cavity, frequently causes discomfort when biting. Decay erodes the protective enamel, exposing sensitive inner layers like dentin or the nerve-filled pulp. Pressure from biting can then trigger sharp pain. Even small, hidden cavities can cause sensitivity under pressure.
Cracked tooth syndrome involves a crack that has not yet completely fractured. These cracks can be microscopic, extending into deeper tooth layers. When pressure is applied during biting, the crack may flex, irritating internal nerves and causing sharp pain, sometimes upon releasing pressure. Molars are particularly susceptible due to significant chewing forces.
Existing dental restorations like fillings or crowns can cause discomfort. Over time, a restoration may become loose, damaged, or develop a gap. This allows food or bacteria to get trapped, or exposes sensitive tooth structure to biting pressure. Additionally, a new filling that is too high can interfere with the bite, causing pain.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, exerts excessive force on teeth and jaw muscles, often unconsciously during sleep. This constant pressure can wear down enamel, loosen teeth, or cause micro-trauma. This results in tooth sensitivity or pain when biting, which can be localized or spread.
Gum recession, where gum tissue pulls back, exposes root surfaces lacking protective enamel. These exposed roots contain tiny tubules leading to the tooth’s nerve, making them highly sensitive to pressure, temperature changes, and acidic foods when biting. Gum disease can also cause inflammation affecting supporting tooth structures, leading to chewing discomfort.
Temporary sensitivity after recent dental work, such as a new filling, crown, or cleaning, is common. This discomfort typically subsides within days to weeks as the tooth recovers. However, persistent or worsening sensitivity might indicate a different issue.
Less Common but Serious Concerns
Some causes of biting discomfort indicate more serious conditions requiring prompt attention. A dental abscess is a bacterial infection forming a pocket of pus within the tooth or gum tissue. This infection causes continuous, throbbing pain that worsens with biting pressure, and may involve facial or jaw swelling. An untreated abscess can spread infection, making timely treatment important.
An impacted tooth, often a wisdom tooth, can cause pain when biting or chewing. This occurs when a tooth lacks space to erupt properly, pressing against adjacent teeth or the jawbone. Impacted teeth can also collect food and bacteria, leading to infection, inflammation, or cyst formation, contributing to pain under pressure.
Referred pain is discomfort felt in the teeth but originating elsewhere in the head or neck. Sinus infections can cause pain in upper teeth due to their proximity to sinus cavities. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, affecting the jaw joint, can also manifest as tooth pain, especially when chewing or moving the jaw.
Past dental trauma, even minor incidents like a fall, can lead to internal damage manifesting as pain over time. A tooth might appear fine externally but could have sustained damage to its internal pulp or root structure. This hidden damage can cause sensitivity or pain when biting, sometimes developing weeks or months after the initial injury.
When to Seek Professional Dental Care
Certain symptoms accompanying tooth discomfort when biting indicate professional dental evaluation is necessary. Persistent pain lasting more than a day or two, especially if not relieved by over-the-counter medication, signals a need to see a dentist. Pain that worsens or becomes severe and throbbing also warrants immediate attention.
Visible swelling in the gums, face, or jaw around the affected tooth suggests a potential infection or abscess needing urgent treatment. Redness, a foul odor, or pus draining from the gums are additional signs of infection. A fever accompanying tooth pain also indicates a spreading infection requiring prompt professional care.
Other indicators include visible tooth damage, such as a large crack or chip, or a loose permanent tooth. Inability to eat comfortably, pain that disrupts sleep, or lingering sensitivity to hot or cold also signal a needed dental visit. Addressing these symptoms early can prevent more complex problems.
What to Expect at Your Dental Visit
When visiting the dentist for biting discomfort, the appointment typically begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms. The dentist will ask about the pain’s nature, duration, intensity, and triggers. Providing clear information about the pain’s onset and what worsens or improves it helps guide the diagnostic process.
Following the discussion, a thorough clinical examination of your mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw will be performed. The dentist will visually inspect the area for signs of decay, cracks, inflammation, or swelling. They may gently tap on teeth to check for tenderness, or use a dental probe for deep cavities or gum issues.
Diagnostic tests pinpoint the discomfort’s exact cause. Dental X-rays are commonly taken to reveal issues not visible visually, such as hidden cavities, abscesses, or root problems. The dentist may also perform vitality tests, assessing pulp health by checking its response to hot or cold stimuli. A biting test, often using a Tooth Slooth, helps identify a specific tooth or cusp causing pain when pressure is applied or released.
Once a diagnosis is made, the dentist will discuss findings and outline treatment options. The recommended treatment depends on the specific cause, ranging from a simple filling or restoration adjustment to procedures like a root canal, crown, or extraction. Your dentist will explain the proposed plan and answer any questions about the next steps.