As a child, you must have fallen from a bike and bruised your knee or elbow. A similar phenomenon can happen to your teeth, and you will have to bear the pain of bruised tooth. The reason for this pain is your tooth ligaments.
Ligaments hold your teeth in a place. They act as shock absorbers for your teeth, preventing them from everyday hits. Sometimes the hits are strong enough to damage or inflame them, giving you a sprained tooth, known as sprained tooth syndrome.
Causes of sprained tooth syndrome
Applying too much pressure on your ligaments when taking a hard bite on food or any object, sprain them. It is because the capillaries under the surface burst making your tooth turn grey.
Is an infected tooth or bruised tooth the same?
A bruised tooth can be seen as less severe because it happens because of physical activity. The chances are that your teeth will automatically start healing themselves, and you can make sure of that if its color starts turning pink.
An infected tooth requires more attention and care. It jeopardizes your oral health as well as its appearance. Your teeth can become infected because of the cavity, and if not taken care of, it can worsen, leading to dental implants or root canal. An untreated infection may spread to your jaw and other areas of neck and head.
Treating a bruised tooth
- Time is the best medicine; let your bruises heal on their own.
- You need to take care of your ligaments; therefore, avoid biting on hard objects
- Painkillers are the first treatment in most cases; however, light doses are always preferable.
- If you are addicted to grinding your teeth in sleep, try to overcome with your habit or go for other options, for instance, ask for a custom mouthguard from your dentist to prevent future surface damage.
Seeking immediate dental help is essential for the treatment of accidental injuries. Therefore, if you are having a toothache or witness any change in color, reach out to your dentist as soon as possible. Visit Angleton Family Dental and Orthodontics to get immediate care.
