| 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 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 toothpastes 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. |
Dental work may inflame the pulp, or nerves, inside the tooth, causing temporary sensitivity. |
| Sharp pain when biting down on food. |
There are several possible causes of this type of pain: decay, loose filling, or a crack in the tooth. There may 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 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 known as Bruxism, can also cause this type of ache. |
For sinus headache, try over the counter analgesics or sinus medicine. For Bruxism, consult your dentist. If pain is severe 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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