Can you explain the flashes of pain I am getting in my tooth?
Q.
Can mild tooth clenching cause gum swelling?
I’m 50, have a lot of fillings, and suddenly started having flashes of pain in a lower back tooth (6th from the front) with heat esp but also cold and sugar. It’s had fillings before. It got bad but the day before I saw a dentist it gradually went away. The dentist X-rayed it and found nothing wrong at all. Then it started up again. The pain seemed to echo in the top tooth and along my lower jaw. The next dentist likewise found nothing wrong on an X-ray, and no extra pain when he pressed the gum next to the root, but found a small piece of apple skin and removed it and told me to drip an antibacterial mouth wash into the gum/tooth lining with my tooth brush. The flashing pain cleared up but the tooth remained sensitive. Now there is swelling of the gum below the tooth low down at the jaw line and a little more pain than usual. I noticed when I relax to sleep I snug my lower jaw into my upper jaw firmly, and that the first point of contact is on that tooth. I think this was since some dental work done a year ago. Could this be the cause of the pain? Thank you for your time.
Can mild tooth clenching cause gum swelling?
I’m 50, have a lot of fillings, and suddenly started having flashes of pain in a lower back tooth (6th from the front) with heat esp but also cold and sugar. It’s had fillings before. It got bad but the day before I saw a dentist it gradually went away. The dentist X-rayed it and found nothing wrong at all. Then it started up again. The pain seemed to echo in the top tooth and along my lower jaw. The next dentist likewise found nothing wrong on an X-ray, and no extra pain when he pressed the gum next to the root, but found a small piece of apple skin and removed it and told me to drip an antibacterial mouth wash into the gum/tooth lining with my tooth brush. The flashing pain cleared up but the tooth remained sensitive. Now there is swelling of the gum below the tooth low down at the jaw line and a little more pain than usual. I noticed when I relax to sleep I snug my lower jaw into my upper jaw firmly, and that the first point of contact is on that tooth. I think this was since some dental work done a year ago. Could this be the cause of the pain? Thank you for your time.
A.
Hi and thank you for your questions
Hi and thank you for your questions
You could be correct – it certainly is possible that if one tooth is taking too much force that pain can be caused and sometimes swelling as well. The swelling and pain can be for many reasons , anything from minor irritaion from food in the gum, to a full blown infection
It would be most wise for you to come for a full consultation and assessment of your problems as soon as possible, either with us, or with a local dentist (of good quality and reputation ideally!)
My guess at this stage is that you have an infection in the tooth but i can’t be certain without a full examination and X-rays etc.
Please seek out some high quality dental care as soon as you possibly can
Hope that helps
Mark
Thank you! I am very much indebted to you. On your recommendation I have seen a 3rd dentist on an emergency today and he has given me antibiotics. (He thinks the tooth is dying but he is not sure why.)
I suspect by your kindness you may have saved me from something much more serious. I wish there was some way to repay you!
(If you can recommend any dentist in the greater SW London area of KT or TW, (around Sunbury), I’d be very grateful!)
Bless you!
I beg your pardon, I have just seen a link on the email with your response, which links to a directory of cosmetic dentists in the area. Thank you! I’ll try them!
I am getting irritation n pain while eating,
Hi Mardi, It could be a tooth problem or a gum problem. Depending on what it is sensitive to. I suggest you go for a consultation.
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