Here's why your teeth sometimes hurt when you chew

There are various factors that can cause tooth pain when chewing.

Here's why your teeth sometimes hurt when you chew
© Getty/ Arindam Ghosh
Here's why your teeth sometimes hurt when you chew

The teeth may be the hardest part of your body, but they too can feel pain. Often, this pain, which is reactive and originating from the inside of your teeth, occurs when you bite into your food. There are various factors that can cause tooth pain when chewing, depending on the stimuli. Below are three of the possible reasons why your teeth may hurt when you eat.

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Cracked tooth

When you experience sharp pain from the inside of your teeth when you bite into an apple, you might want to have a dentist check for cracks in your teeth, according to Markham Dental Smiles. The pain you feel could be from the lower/upper teeth, ranging from mild to severe.

A cracked tooth is not easy to diagnose, but a common symptom is the occurrence of pain when you bite down on the tooth. Parkdale Dental in Ottawa, advises seeing a dentist if you determine that the pain is coming from a specific area when you chew.

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Stuffed sinuses

It might seem far-fetched to link toothache to your nasal region, but pain in your upper back teeth could be due to sinus infection. This, according to Parkdale Dental, is because your teeth are very close to your nasal passages.

The roots of your teeth are situated in close proximity to your nasal sinuses. Tooth pain when you bite down may not necessarily mean there’s a dental problem. Rather, it could be because the sinuses are inflamed.

Gum problems

You might want to take a closer look at the health of your gums if biting down causes tooth pain. This could be because of the tissues in your gum keeping the teeth in place may be detached. Experts at Parkdale Dental explained:

Depending on the severity of tissue detachment, you could also be experiencing symptoms of bleeding or swollen gums, spaces between teeth, exposed tooth roots, heavy tartar build-up, mobility and sensitive teeth.

Sources used:

Parkdale Dental: 7 Possible Reasons Why Your Tooth Hurts When Biting Down or Chewing

WebMD: Conditions That Make Your Teeth Hurt

Markham Dental Smiles: Why Do My Teeth Hurt While Eating

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