Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Bite Down?

It is certainly not an enjoyable experience when your tooth starts hurting with slight pressure, whether you are biting down or touching it. There are a number of reasons why your tooth might be hurting when you bite down, and these include:

1. Cavity
   When decay progresses, it eats away your tooth enamel and reaches the inner layers of your tooth. If you neglect treatment, the decay can progress into a hole known as a cavity. You can develop a cavity without you even noticing, especially if it is in a tricky spot. A cavity could be responsible for your tooth pain when you bite down!
2. Malocclusion
   When your jaws come together, your teeth meet, and this is known as occlusion. If they do not fit together in the right manner or alignment, it can lead to pain and even worn-out teeth when you bite down. Therefore, malocclusion could be why your teeth hurt when you bite down.
3. Gum Disease
   When your gums have a serious infection, it can lead to gingivitis, which transitions into an advanced stage called periodontitis if left untreated. Gum disease can exhibit tooth pain as one of the symptoms, which worsens if you already suffer from inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.
4. Tooth Injury
   Your tooth might hurt when you bite down if it is damaged or cracked. You will feel a sharp shot of pain when you bite down the affected tooth, and it usually disappears once the pressure goes away. Stay on the lookout for symptoms of a cracked tooth, which include a feeling like something is stuck between your teeth, pain while eating and drinking, etc. Sometimes, people don’t even realize they have a cracked tooth. Visit a dentist if you suspect you have an injured tooth!
5. Loose Filling or Crown
   If you have a loose dental restoration, that could explain why your tooth hurts when you bite down. When a filling or crown is loose, it might give bacteria the opportunity to sneak beneath it, sometimes even irritating the nerve.

If you experience tooth pain when you bite down, it is important to consult a dental professional. There are different treatments, depending on the problem. For a cavity, the dentist might suggest a filling, crown, or root canal based on the extent of damage. As for malocclusion, you may need braces or another suitable treatment to correct the alignment of your teeth. From scaling and root planning to gum graft surgery, the treatment for periodontal disease will depend on the level of gum disease.