Suddenly my tooth hurts if I touch it!

Hi all I was wondering if anyone could give me some answers to my question....
About 2 days ago I developed a dull ache in one of my top molars. It hurts if I push on it/put pressure on it with my finger or tongue but doesn't hurt too much at all to chew on that side. It happened straight after I ate an apple and it happened very suddenly. It is not sensitive to hot or cold so basically the pain is there only if I touch it with my finger. I have booked a dentist appointment for this coming week but I am so so scared he is going to say I need a root canal. I know this particular tooth that is playing up doesn't have any cavities as it was only 2 weeks ago I got a full check up and clean and that tooth never had any issues with it. I did try and use dental floss to see if it was just a simple case of having food stuck and I did get some food out which did manage to relieve some of the pain but not all. Is it possible the tooth could be infected or "dying" and need a root canal even though there was nothing wrong with it at last check 2 weeks ago?
Worrying myself silly!!!

I have the same symptoms with one of my top molars.

This is a shot in the dark but... could it be related to your sinuses? My tooth suddenly becomes sensitive without warning and lasts for about a week. During this time it feels 'big' and is very sensitive to touch or brush then it subsides for a few months before the same happens again. I do have a crack in the tooth but my dentist thinks it's a sinus-related problem. When I lean forwards, it hurts more. Does this sound like yours?

Karenw said:

I have the same symptoms with one of my top molars.

This is a shot in the dark but... could it be related to your sinuses? My tooth suddenly becomes sensitive without warning and lasts for about a week. During this time it feels 'big' and is very sensitive to touch or brush then it subsides for a few months before the same happens again. I do have a crack in the tooth but my dentist thinks it's a sinus-related problem. When I lean forwards, it hurts more. Does this sound like yours?

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I have read that a lot of upper teeth issues that are actually not dental related and most likely sinus related but I assumed that it wouldn't just single out one tooth in particular. I don't feel any extra pressure bending down or anything. But it is of course a possibility. Thanks so much for your reply karen

The dentist thinks it is because I am getting food trapped in the gums and around the surrounding painful tooth and that is what is making the tooth itself sore. He did the tap tests on the tooth and an xray. Does that sound right?

rosie28 said:

The dentist thinks it is because I am getting food trapped in the gums and around the surrounding painful tooth and that is what is making the tooth itself sore. He did the tap tests on the tooth and an xray. Does that sound right?

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it does indeed sound right. If he cleaned the gum then it should settle very quickly. If food is trapping all the time then you will need some work doing.
If the problm doesnt settle then get a repeat xray - sometimes problems take a while to show up.

Thanks for your reply Rob.

I guess I was concerned as it is still sore even after he did the gum clean for me. I just brushed my teeth then and without even touching the tooth I can feel a slight twinge happening....could that be a sign of sensitivity? How long should I expect this tooth to still be sore? When should I go back to the dentist about it if the pain does not go away?

rosie28 said:

Thanks for your reply Rob.

I guess I was concerned as it is still sore even after he did the gum clean for me. I just brushed my teeth then and without even touching the tooth I can feel a slight twinge happening....could that be a sign of sensitivity? How long should I expect this tooth to still be sore? When should I go back to the dentist about it if the pain does not go away?

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give it just 2-3 days. If it is just food trapping it will be better in this time.
If it hasn't improved you need a repeat visit to check for fracture lines etc.

I should mention that the dentist also gave me antibiotics in case of bacteria

If the problem is down to food packing then it will settle very quickly. If its a dead nerve then the antibiotics will settle it temporarily after a few days (3-5). If its a fracture then it won't settle at all.

I went to a different dentist today (a maxillo-facial/oral surgeon) as I was referred to him for a separate issue in relation to some jaw and muscle pain I have been getting but he looked at the area I said was painful today around the tooth and where the food was getting trapped and he has told me he believes I have gingivitis. He is the first doctor that has suggested that to me. The tooth is still sore no real changes there. The dentist today noticed the gum started to bleed again next to the sore tooth when he was doing whatever it was he was doing with it and he has referred me for an x-ray which is a 3D Volumetric Conebeam and he believes that will show up all sorts of things that a normal x -ray won't be able to see. I think it will even show if the pain is a root issue?

Ok so my tooth is still sore and I had a 3D conebeam x ray done today but the specialist I am seeing is unable to see me again until next Thursday and he will have the results of my x rays then. I tried getting in earlier but theres no way he can fit me in. What am I supposed to do about this pain? I don't need how I can put up with this for another week. I can go back again to my local dentist but without the results of the conebeam x ray then I am not sure what he will be able to do for me that was any different to last time?

Orajel on the gum will help.

Just wanted to agree with the dentist(s) about trapped food. I had a pretty painful tooth (last molar) on the top and was just positive it had a serious decay but the dentist noticed the gum was inflamed and was able to get out some food that had been in there long enough that it was black. I really thought it was infection or dried blood, but he wet it and could see part of an apple peel. It was sore for about a week as it healed (and I had to keep flossing and brushing even tho it was sore) but it healed up. I was given some antibiotic mouthwash to use, too. This was several years ago and every once in a while I can feel some pressure like that tooth is being pushed back and will find food stuck there.

Thanks so much for your response scareddiane. I am fairly confident that it is not my tooth causing the issues and is indeed the gum as I have been told by the dentists so now I need to try and stop the food trapping in there all the time. I had my wisdom tooth removed 4 weeks ago and I think the back molar has shifted ever so slightly and caused a bigger gap between my two back molars. It is frustrating to say the least. It's been 8 days of pain now and although the pain is better than it was it is taking forever to get over this. I have been flossing and using mouth wash, still on the antibiotics as well. No idea what else I could possibly do to ease the pain!! I don't want to keep taking pain killers because that is no good for me either. I hope there is a light at the end of this tunnel