There are a number of potential sources for oral pain. The condition of your gums can lead to pain in both your gums and your teeth. Your teeth themselves can have issues that result in widespread oral pain. If you are trying to determine the source of your oral pain, you can take a look at your gums and teeth for signs of trouble. The source of the pain will help you decide on the best course of action to get relief. If there is not an obvious cause for the pain, you will need to get an examination from your dentist to help you discover and treat the problem.

Look at your gum health

Your gums can lead to widespread pain in your mouth. Gum disease can cause your gums to swell, bleed, recede, and eventually start to separate from your teeth. If your gums get infected, they can become sensitive and painful. If your gums start to separate from your teeth, it can expose the roots and nerves of your teeth to damage and infection. You can experience severe tooth pain if you develop an abscess or an infection in the root canal of your tooth. If you are experiencing oral pain, poor gum health could be the underlying cause. 

Look at the condition of your teeth

Another potential source for oral pain is your teeth themselves. Two of the main ways that teeth can cause pain are with decay and infection. Tooth decay always starts out small and may only cause intermittent pain in the beginning. Decay is progressive, which means once it starts it will continue until you take action to stop it from worsening. The pain occurs as the decay eats away at your teeth and exposes your nerves. This can cause your teeth to throb and make them sensitive to cold and heat. Decay and gum disease can both make your teeth susceptible to infection. If your teeth become infected, it happens at the root level and can cause serious pain. When your teeth are the cause of your oral pain, you need to see a dentist. Decay and infection will both continue to progress and cause you pain until they are eliminated with the help of your dentist. 

Get an examination by a dentist

The most effective way to determine the source of your oral pain is to get an examination by a dentist. Your dentist will be able to look at the condition of your gums and teeth on a much deeper level than you can do on your own. A visual examination coupled with x-rays will give your dentist all of the information he needs to provide you with treatment that will relieve your pain.

The oral pain caused by gum disease, tooth decay, and infection can be severe. If you take steps to determine the cause of the pain as soon as it appears, you can prevent it from worsening. The type of treatment you need to eliminate your oral pain depends on the source and severity of the issue.