There are many causes of tooth pain. However, if you’re noticing pain in only your front teeth, this can help narrow it down a bit. If you’re experiencing pain in your front teeth, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can give you a better assessment of what’s causing your pain, and help you resolve it. In the meantime, the following issues might be causing pain in your front teeth.
Why Do My Front Teeth Hurt?
If only your front teeth are hurting, this is probably an issue with just one or a small group of teeth near the front of your mouth. Contrastingly, if all of your teeth hurt, or all of your upper teeth hurt, it may be a different issue. Being able to describe where you’re feeling pain and what it feels like will help your dentist assess the problem more accurately.
6 Causes of Pain in Your Front Teeth
1. Cavity
According to the CDC, about 26% of American adults have untreated tooth decay. This decay often causes cavities, which are small holes in your teeth created by bacteria. When these bacteria get past the tooth enamel and start eating away at softer structures within the teeth, it can cause pain.
At their beginning stages, it can be hard to detect a cavity. The hole is usually very small and it can be hard to see without dental tools. However, as the cavity gets worse, you may feel pain in the tooth. You might also notice discoloration in the tooth or around the gums. If this is causing pain in your front teeth, you should see a dentist as soon as possible.
2. Tooth Infection
In some cases, untreated tooth decay can cause a tooth infection. This can also cause pain in the front teeth. When bacteria infect the tooth root, underneath the gums, it can be more difficult to notice. If you have a tooth infection, you might notice discoloration around the gums, or a bad taste in your mouth.
3. Sinus Infection
Your sinuses are very close to your teeth roots. When your sinuses become congested or infected, it can put pressure and cause pain to your upper teeth. Usually, this will affect all of the upper teeth. However, the pain or pressure might be localized to your front teeth in some cases. If you’ve recently had a cold and the sinus pressure hasn’t gone away, infected or congested sinuses might be causing pain in your front teeth.
4. Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is usually caused by stress. This usually occurs at night, but might occur throughout the day as well. Your jaw muscles are very strong, and persistent teeth grinding can put up to 200 lbs of pressure on your teeth. A mouthguard for teeth grinding can help relieve this pressure, and might help relieve pain in your front teeth.
5. Worn Down Tooth Enamel
Your tooth enamel protects the softer tissues within your teeth, like the dentin. The dentin connects to the nerves deeper inside and underneath your teeth. If the enamel wears away, it can expose the dentin. This might cause dental or dentin hypersensitivity, which will cause hot or cold foods and other sensations to cause pain. Your tooth enamel might wear down on your front teeth faster than other teeth if you’re brushing too hard on these teeth, or you’re grinding your teeth unevenly, for example.
6. Chipped or Cracked Teeth
If your front teeth are chipped or cracked, this can cause an intense, stabbing pain when you’re eating or brushing. A chipped or cracked tooth is similar to a wound on other parts of your body; contact with an open wound will cause pain. If you think this is the cause of pain in your front teeth, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, you might use a bonding gel to cover the exposed or broken parts of the teeth.
If you’re experiencing pain in your front teeth, it might be caused by these factors. This pain is unlikely to go away on its own. Make an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can. Your dentist can assess the problem and provide treatments for the pain.
