Have you been ignoring pain in your tooth, hoping it will go away? Your Lodi, CA, dentist, Dr. Mary Ali, can determine why your tooth hurts and offer effective treatments. These six factors are often responsible for tooth pain.

Tooth decay

Cavities are a common cause of tooth pain. In fact, 92 percent of people ages 20 to 64 have had a cavity at some point in their lives, according to National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Cavities are treated by removing the decayed part of the tooth and replacing it with a filling.

Tooth decay usually only causes pain when cavities are fairly large. Regular visits to the Lodi dental office ensure that cavities are diagnosed when they're small and haven't done much damage to your tooth yet.

Tooth pulp inflammation or infection

Pain in a tooth may triggered by inflammation or infection in the pulp at the center of your tooth. If this is the cause of your pain, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy. Similar to a filling, the process involves removing your tooth pulp and replacing it with filling material. A crown is often added to the tooth after the root canal to strengthen it. Root canal therapy ends your pain and helps you avoid tooth loss.

A crack

Teeth can become cracked due to wear and tear, a blow to the face, or biting into a hard object. Adding a crown to a cracked tooth reduces the chances of a fracture and also prevents bacteria from entering your tooth through the opening. If a crack extends to the root of a tooth, extraction is the only option.

Sinus infection

Did your upper teeth start hurting about the same time you noticed sinusitis symptoms? The pain may be triggered by inflammation in your sinuses. If the pain continues after you recover from the infection, be sure to make a dental appointment.

Gum disease

Pain in teeth may also occur if you have gum disease. Other signs include bad breath, spaces around teeth, and puffy, red gums. As gum disease worsens, your gum tissue begin to recede, exposing your tooth roots. If you notice that your gums have receded, pain may occur when you eat or drink hot, cold, or sugary foods and beverages.

A new filling

Your tooth may be a little tender for a few days after you receive a filling. If your symptoms continue longer, let your dentist know. Tooth pain can occur if one part of the filling is a little too high. If that's the case, your dentist can fix the problem in just a few minutes.

Don't suffer from tooth pain needlessly! Call your dentist in Lodi, CA, Dr. Ali, at (209) 369-2696 to schedule an appointment.