Tooth pain can be extremely uncomfortable at any age. Although, it only seems worse when one of our kids tells us about having tooth pain and considering that summer is quickly approaching, a toothache can really put a damper on the plans especially if your child has summer camp coming up soon.
Common Causes of Tooth Pain:
Frankly, tooth pain can be an indicator of many different dental concerns. Some of these are as follows:
Tooth Decay (Cavities): If your child has pain that persists for more than a day, decay could be the reason behind the pain. You may or may not be able to see a dark or brown spot on a tooth that could be the problem area causing the pain.
Erupting Teeth: If your child is around the age of 11 or 12-years old, the tooth pain could potentially be a sign the their 12-year molars are erupting through the gums. You should note that due to genetics some children receive their molars early or late.
Abscessed Tooth: If the tooth pain seems severe or your child says that the tooth “feels like it is throbbing,” this could mean that a pus pocket has formed within the root of a tooth. Touching the painful area would increase the pain and may be sensitive to temperature.
Cracked Enamel. Biting on a hard object or chewing on hard substances like ice has the potential to crack a tooth. If your child complains of hot or cold bothering their tooth this could be a good indicator that there is a crack. Most likely, you won’t be able to see a physical crack and a dentist would have to take a much closer look at your child’s tooth.
Gum Disease: If your child doesn’t have a particular tooth that hurts, it could be their gums that are causing the teeth to feel uncomfortable. Gum disease, or gingivitis causes the gums to become inflamed and they may bleed when being brushed or flossed and can hurt.
Food Stuck in the Teeth: Check to see if your child has any food particles wedged between the teeth or stuck anywhere. This can create discomfort or almost feel like the teeth are being “spaced” apart. Try to floss each tooth to remove and debris or food particles.
What to Do:
If after inspecting your child’s teeth and you don’t find any food stuck between the teeth, it is recommended that you immediately contact a dentist for an appointment prior to your child attending summer camp. Whether your child has a cavity or a cracked tooth, your child will need some kind of treatment to fix the tooth.
Contact River Run Dental:
If your child has been experiencing any tooth pain, please contact our Richmond, VA office immediately! We will schedule your child with one of our excellent dentists for an appointment to assess the pain that they are experiencing.