Common Reasons You Experience Pain When Chewing

A survey by Delta Dental found that 93% of Americans intend to visit the dentist in 2021.

From the sodas that we drink to the foods that we eat, there are a variety of ways to get tooth decay. If you are experiencing pain when chewing, you might be looking at a dental problem.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons you might be experiencing tooth pain while chewing.

Cracked Tooth

It can be difficult to diagnose jaw pain caused by a cracked tooth. This is because you’ll sometimes not have any other obvious symptoms beyond just having pain when biting down.

To help find out if it’s a cracked tooth or not, pay attention to where the pain is radiating from. Does it come from a specific area? You can use a special bite stick to see if you have tooth pain when applying pressure at specific points.

Large Cavity

The most common cause behind tooth sensitivity are cavities. Tooth decay causes lingering pain after you eat certain foods or drink something cold. Many people also experience pain from eating sweets.

If you believe you may have a cavity, you should go to a professional dentist who will know how to tell if you have tooth decay and how to treat it. It’s important to have cavities treated soon, as this can lead to tooth infection.

Dental Abscess

If you experience pain when chewing to a specific tooth, it could also be an abscess. An abscess creates swelling or a cyst inside of the bone. This then puts pressure against the tooth, creating pain.

Pain with an abscess can come and go as the swelling goes up and then drains. Look for fistulas (small pimples) on the gums. These often appear near the tooth that has an abscess. If you do have an abscess, you’ll need a root canal.

Periodontal Disease

The health of your gums is important. If you are having pain while eating, another cause to look at is if you have periodontal disease. The only way to diagnose this is by having a dental exam.

Your dentist can measure the attachment levels of the gum around each tooth. If you have severe tissue detachment, then the dentist will let you know that you have periodontal disease. Other symptoms of this disease can include bleeding or swelling of the gums, spaces forming between the teeth, heavy tartar build-up, and sensitive teeth.

Uneven Occlusion

Occlusion is the word used to describe the way teeth bite together. Both the upper and lower teeth should occlude evenly. Sometimes, a tooth, crown, or filling can sit too high. This can lead to pain when you bite on that specific tooth. A dentist can help to adjust your bite and take the extra pressure off the involved teeth.

Never Ignore Pain When Chewing

Pay attention to the signs. If you are experienced pain when chewing, then it is important that you see a dentist as soon as possible. By delaying treatment, your symptoms can worsen.

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