Toothache BUT no cavity

[jemmouse]

My upper tooth don't know exact number has been hurting. This has been on and off for a few months. On my last cleaning, 3 months ago, they said no cavity, and then they put a sealant on it. He said if it persists they could do a root canal. Now I don't know about you but I don't like root canals for an "if" but if any of you have had success with something like this please pass your knowledge on.

I do have recurring sinus infections and this isn't from it. It also bothers me like a tiny zing when I drink cold, which does equate to cavity...Oh and I am an ice chewer, I did quit for a while and started back up. I can diet easier then give up my ice but as of today NO MORE ICE CHEWING!!!

ANy advice or tips you could offer I would so appreciate....

I have yet to call the dentist, I am giving it until tomorrow.....

 

[marcyinPA]

Do you have toothbrush abbrasion at your gumline? This could cause sensitvity. If you are sure you don't have cavity, why don't you try Sensodyne for a while to see if it helps. I go through periods of sensitivity and I use it,...works pretty well.

 

[RitaZ.]

My upper tooth don't know exact number has been hurting. This has been on and off for a few months. On my last cleaning, 3 months ago, they said no cavity, and then they put a sealant on it. He said if it persists they could do a root canal. Now I don't know about you but I don't like root canals for an "if" but if any of you have had success with something like this please pass your knowledge on.

I do have recurring sinus infections and this isn't from it. It also bothers me like a tiny zing when I drink cold, which does equate to cavity...Oh and I am an ice chewer, I did quit for a while and started back up. I can diet easier then give up my ice but as of today NO MORE ICE CHEWING!!!

ANy advice or tips you could offer I would so appreciate....

I have yet to call the dentist, I am giving it until tomorrow.....

Maybe the ice chewing caused a small crack in the tooth. Just a thought.

 

[LuLuO]

Have you had your iron levels checked? People who chew ice (me) tend to be anemic or on the low end of normal. Something to get checked.

As for the tooth pain, do you use a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth? Sensodyne is what I use and it helps tremendously.

 

[Christine]

I had a similar issue in one tooth. I was experiencing extreme sensitivity and some problems with pressure. I have no cavity either. They even did a more focused x-ray to look at the nerve and the root canal was also discussed.

The one thing they did did is "paint" on a high dose flouride of some sort all over the tooth (a sealant only does the top surface). They told me that it filled in all the porous parts of the tooth. It takes about 3 weeks to kick in after they do it. I was suspicious but it worked. They told me that it only lasts about 9 months and they have to do it again. But it has lasted almost 18 months now.

 

[jemmouse]

I already use Sensodyne, wish that was the answer

I think a crack might be, what do they do? Is a root canal needed for that???

Tell me more about the fluoride?

Never have I had that just the sealant that smells like acrylic nail stuff, YUCK!

But if it helps I am down with that....

I swear if its not one thing its something else, lucky me

 

[powellrj]

When I read your title, my first thought was its your sinuses. I went through the same thing a few years ago. My teeth would just ache. I would go to the dentist, he would take x-rays and tell me there was nothing there. He would send me out with $10 sensitive toothpaste and a few weeks later I would be better only to have the samething happen a couple of months later.

Fast forward last year. My mouth was throbbing and I had a huge golf ball sized knot on my jaw. I really didn't have anything that would make me think sinus infection, but my ears hurt. We were leaving on vacation in a few days so I went to the med check since the dentist office was closed. She told me I had a wicked sinus infection that was causing the tooth pain, the knot and the sore ears. I had a steroid shot, an antibiotic shot and was on both steroids and antibiotics. Sure enough, the pain went away and hasn't been back. I was fighting this every few months and nobody ever suggested my sinuses and once I kicked it, I haven't had a problem.

 

[DisFam11]

I have had toothaches without related cavities twice in the past 10 years and I went to the chiropractor both times and had my neck adjusted. Worked both times. I know some people will think this is a crazy suggestion but it worked and is much cheaper and less painful than a root canal. Good luck!

 

[disneymarie]

My upper tooth don't know exact number has been hurting. This has been on and off for a few months. On my last cleaning, 3 months ago, they said no cavity, and then they put a sealant on it. He said if it persists they could do a root canal. Now I don't know about you but I don't like root canals for an "if" but if any of you have had success with something like this please pass your knowledge on.

I do have recurring sinus infections and this isn't from it. It also bothers me like a tiny zing when I drink cold, which does equate to cavity...Oh and I am an ice chewer, I did quit for a while and started back up. I can diet easier then give up my ice but as of today NO MORE ICE CHEWING!!!

ANy advice or tips you could offer I would so appreciate....

I have yet to call the dentist, I am giving it until tomorrow.....

You may have a low lying sinus infection. My sister struggled for months with a tooth , everything including root canal and it ended up she needed a sulfur type medication to rid the infection.
Have a sinus X-ray, and cat scan if need be. That was how mine was found. A sinus infection can cause the asthma it escalate and pulmonary doc did the sinus cat scan finding it. I suffered for almost two years with it.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I suffered with pain for a month in my jaw, ear and eventually my entire face due to a bad nerve in a molar. I had a root canal and felt fabulous right after. They aren't that bad anymore.

 

[7165red]

When the tooth reacts to cold it is usually the nerve reacting. I have been through it and ended up with a root canal. Thepain did stop.

 

[trishwal]

Funny to give dental advice on a Disney board but..here goes

Cold sensitivity that is a "zing" in my experience is usually coming from the area where the tooth meets the gumline. You can have just a fraction of a millimeter of gum recession and not know it, and it's most common on the outsides of teeth versus along the inner side next to the roof of your mouth and your tongue.

What causes the recession is either the way your teeth hit (misalignment) or parafunction (using your teeth in ways they're not supposed to be used, like clenching or grinding, or chewing on ice), and occasionally from gums that receded due to infection (periodontal disease).

The treatments that have been suggested are very similar to those I recommend every single day as a hygienist because this is the most common problem I see. Look for a toothpaste that has Potassium Nitrate as an active ingredient (that's what's in Sensodyne and all the other "Sensitive" toothpastes that make them cost a bit more). There is a sealant that can be placed specifically along the area if you can have your dental professional blow air and pinpoint the spot that is cold sensitive that works very well and doesn't taste bad (it's called Ultradent Dentinal Sealant if that info is of any use).

I personally can't tolerate sweets in one area of my mouth and SWEAR there's a cavity, but this stuff takes care of it for months at a time, if that gives me any human credibility

 

[DisneyLvr55]

My DH thought he had a cavity a while back (never had one, and hes 38!). They did an x-ray and it ended up being a sinus infection. I don't know if you've done an x-ray, but its worth looking into.

 

[wgeo]

One of the first signs that my cold isn't going away and has in fact turned into a sinus infection is the tooth ache feeling and even sensitivity.

However, I did also once have the zinging issue and it needed a root canal.

So, sorry OP I don't imaging either choice is all that exciting, hope you are able to figure out what the problem is.

 

[Agri]

I went through something similar and since it was a back molar no one would see, I just got it yanked. For reasons no one really knows, sometimes teeth just start to 'die' - the nerve acts up and generally causes a lot of pain. A root canal will get rid of the nerve and take care of the pain. If it's just one tooth, I'd think that this is the most likely scenario.

However, keep in mind a root canal also makes the tooth weak, so you might want to bring that up if you take that route - especially as an ice chewer.

 

[jemmouse]

Thank you all! I have an appointment Friday morning...So hopefully something. They said they will of course look, X-ray, put that sensitive stuff on it, and go from there...

If root canal is what I need I will definitely do it. We fly to Disney in 2 months and I have seen a dentist in Florida before and don't want to do that ever again....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My advice would be for you to see a specialist to determine if they can find the issue.

You may need a root canal or something else.

My dh had the tooth they would always blame on sinuses. He finally saw an oral surgeon who determined that his wisdom teeth he still had was creating the issue.

He had those removed and has been fine ever since.

I can feel your "pain". I cracked a molar filling and now I have to get a crown. Blah.

 

[indimom]

I had a similar experience. I had a tooth that was giving me "pressure sensitivity" off and on for months on end. I went into the dentist several times, had x-rays, which showed nothing. I did have an old filling in that tooth from my college days.
Guess what the dentist did NOT mention. X-rays will not show a problem under those old fillings. Nice. We found the problem when the tooth deteriorated enough that a chunk came off. I had a small hole into the tooth, but it wasn't visible to the eye because it was between the teeth; and the x-ray was not showing it because of the old filling.
So, if you have an old filling, make sure you check further.

Only other advice, I do get a sensation of achiness in my upper teeth whenever I get a sinus cold. But it's less defined (I cannot pinpoint one tooth). So you might check that option also.

 

[snapppyd]

Be careful. I had no cavity. Bit down on a crown and ended up with a serious infection that required gum surgery. Always be sure to get it checked out when you feel pain. Good luck!

 

[aprilgail2]

However, keep in mind a root canal also makes the tooth weak, so you might want to bring that up if you take that route - especially as an ice chewer.

Whenever I get a root canal done I also have a crown put on that tooth as well. Eventually the tooth will break after a root canal-and then the best case senerio will be that it breaks but leaves enough to put a crown on-worst case is a bridge or implant. No dentist I have ever gone to has not done a crown with a root canal.