If you have a toothache, then it might feel like a minor inconvenience in the moment. But when severe tooth pain sets in, it can disrupt every aspect of your life. It’s important to pay attention to these warning signs so that you know when it’s necessary to visit the dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
The truth is that if you are living with constant tooth pain, then it starts to take over your life. This pain can take a toll on your sleep patterns, affect your mood, and even interfere with your ability to focus. These effects can have an impact on your overall attitude and even your relationships with other people, because chronic pain changes the way you are interacting with your loved ones.
So, it’s important to pay attention if you are experiencing dental pain. When it comes to dental conversations, mental health isn’t often discussed. But it’s an important topic that we want to bring up. Chronic pain, whether from dental issues or other health problems, needs to be taken seriously.
Severe Tooth Pain: It’s Not “All in Your Head”
Even if other people are minimizing your pain, you need to understand that the symptoms you are experiencing are very real and can have an undeniable impact on your life. When you have chronic tooth pain, it activates stress responses in your body – just like the responses that occur when you are injured or living with other types of chronic illnesses (such as arthritis).
Any type of pain that you are experiencing, whether it’s in your mouth or another part of your body, will cause a variety of changes within. For example, if you have an ache in a tooth, then your heart rate will start to go up and stress hormones increase.
Sometimes it’s a chicken-or-the-egg situation. Extremely bad tooth pain means that you might find it challenging to sleep, which has an impact on your overall health and wellness. Some patients find that they start to feel irritable and tired, and they can even have anxiety setting in.
Can Tooth Pain Affect the Brain? The Brain-Pain Connection
Did you know that chronic pain can impact you neurologically? When your body is dealing with pain responses, then it can impact the way your brain is functioning. These pain signals affect your nervous system overall and can change the way the stress pathways are working.
There is a main nerve in your face and jaw called the trigeminal nerve. It connects your face with the brain. If this nerve becomes irritated or inflamed, then the pain signals will start moving down the nerve and send a warning signal to the brain.
Additionally, chronic pain has an impact on the brain’s limbic system. This system becomes overstimulated, especially when it comes to emotion and memory. Your brain’s wiring changes over time when you are experiencing ongoing or severe pain, which can impact your emotional stability. As a result, some patients have a higher risk of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and even panic attacks.
Pain can even affect your neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. So, it makes sense that pain can impact your mental health, because these hormones are important for experiencing happiness and motivation.
The Emotional Toll That Severe Tooth Pain Can Take
If you are experiencing bad dental pain, then start paying attention to how it is impacting your life. There’s no reason for you to continue living with this pain when dental treatments are available, especially since severe tooth pain can be mentally draining.
When the pain is constant and even increasing, you will likely find it more difficult to concentrate on things that are happening throughout the day. For example, you might find it difficult to enjoy activities, which can eventually lead to feelings of detachment or hopelessness.
Sometimes, dental issues also cause people to isolate themselves, especially if they feel embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth or other dental concerns that are occurring. You might find it easier to stay home alone instead of trying to explain your discomfort to other people.
When you are experiencing constant tooth pain, then it can also amplify any mental health issues that were present before the toothache started. For example, having depression and then adding chronic pain into the mix can take a toll overall.
Dangerous Signs to Watch For
Not only do you need to be paying attention to your dental symptoms so that you know when it’s time to visit a dentist for treatment, but it’s just as important to keep an eye on your mental health symptoms as well. These red flags are indicators that you should seek help and treatment as soon as possible.
Here are a few red flags that you need an emergency dental treatment:
- You have severe tooth pain that is just getting worse.
- You notice that your tooth pain ebbs and flows, with ongoing symptoms.
- The pain worsens and starts spreading to your jaw and neck.
- You have signs of a serious infection, such as swelling and/or an abscess.
Watch for these signs that your chronic pain could be impacting your mental health, and you need treatment:
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Suicidal thoughts
- Emotional numbness
- A lack of motivation overall
It is a real and valid experience to have a mental breakdown that is influenced by severe and/or chronic pain. These emotional and mental symptoms need to be treated as seriously as the physical symptoms that you are experiencing.
FAQ
What does chronic pain do to your brain?
A variety of symptoms can impact your brain when you are experiencing chronic pain. Patients often report memory issues and brain fog. Some people also find it difficult to regulate their emotions.
Can chronic pain affect you mentally?
Yes, chronic pain can take a toll on your mental health, especially when the pain continues untreated.
What are the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the brain?
The most common symptoms that your tooth infection is spreading and could be affecting the brain include swelling, fever, severe headache, vision changes, and mental confusion.
What do you do when your chronic pain is unbearable?
The most important thing that you can do is seek professional treatment. Visit a dentist to solve your chronic dental pain, and a mental health expert if you are having mental or emotional symptoms.
Call the Dental Experts at myDental
You don’t need to suffer from severe dental pain. Modern treatments make it easier than ever to alleviate your pain and preserve your oral health. The faster you seek treatment, the easier it is to avoid bigger complications in the future.
For more information about available dental services, contact us to learn more about preventive dentistry. At myDental, we offer general dentistry, restorative treatments, and customized plans for every patient. You can book an appointment at one of our convenient locations. Call anytime if you have questions about available services.
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