Having a tooth (or teeth) that is constantly aching can be worrisome for your health as well as uncomfortable. There are several potential causes of this problem, so read on to see what your solutions could be.

Tooth Cavity

An untreated cavity could be the source of your chronic tooth pain. This is why it's important to get a dental checkup every year to reveal growing cavities. Not treating a cavity can lead to chronic low-level infections and, yes, chronic toothaches.

When treated early on, a filling may be a good solution; larger cavities may require endodontic treatment. Likewise, if you have had repeated cavities on the same tooth, it may be wise to get a root canal and have a crown put in place. Since the roots and all other live tooth matter are taken out during this procedure, this will stop the possibility of having your tissue continue to decay despite a filling. And since the roots are gone too, this will help to prevent continuing toothaches.

Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is another possibility to consider. For example, you can develop a tooth sensitivity if you have an underlying gum disease, because if your gum tissue is weak, bacteria and other substances can penetrate the tooth more easily and reach the nerve endings. Another potential cause is tooth enamel that has been weakened, leaving your teeth vulnerable to pain. You might suspect that your issue is caused by tooth sensitivity if your toothaches tend to get especially bad after you eat certain foods, such as spicy or acidic foods.

Your dentist can suggest several possible fixes for this issue. One is to use sensitive toothpaste and a softer brush for sensitive teeth. You may also need to reevaluate your brushing techniques to see if you are brushing your teeth too hard.

Teeth Grinding

One final thought to consider is whether the problem is actually due to nighttime teeth grinding. Your teeth may be perfectly healthy, but the grinding of teeth while you sleep puts pressure on them. This is something to get checked out especially if your toothaches tend to be prevalent when you first wake up in the morning.

Teeth grinding can be hazardous because the constant grinding causes your tooth enamel to wear down more quickly. It may also lead to other problems, such as chronic headaches. Wearing a mouthguard or other dental headgear as you sleep could help to solve the problem. All of these possible solutions can be evaluated at a dentist office like Minnesota  Lakes Dental .