Pain when you bite or chew: common causes

Why a tooth hurts when you bite down, the common causes from a cavity to a cracked tooth, and why it is worth having checked early.

Pain only when you bite or chew is a useful clue. It points to a problem in the tooth, the gum or the tissue around the root, and each cause is treated differently.

What can cause it?

A cavity that has gone deep. See signs of a cavity.
A cracked tooth. The pain is often sharp, and it can come when you let go of the bite as well as when you press. Some cracks cannot be seen.
A filling or crown that is too high, usually after recent treatment.
An infection at the root, where the tooth feels tender or slightly raised. See tooth abscess.
Gum disease or a gum infection near the tooth.
Grinding or clenching, which can make several teeth sore.
A sinus problem, which can make the upper back teeth ache on both sides, often with a blocked nose.

What should you do?

Chew on the other side until you are seen.
Avoid hard, sticky and very hot or cold food.
Do not keep testing the tooth by biting on it again and again. Each bite can make a crack worse.
See a dentist soon. Do not wait for the pain to go.

Why does early checking matter?

A crack or a deep cavity that is found early can often be treated with a filling or a crown. Left, it may reach the nerve and then needs a root canal, or the tooth may split and be lost.

How does the dentist find the cause?

The dentist will ask when it hurts, look at the tooth and bite, tap and test it, and usually take an X-ray. For a cracked tooth, they may ask you to bite on a small tool. Be ready to say which tooth, and whether hot or cold also bothers it.

When to go the same day

Go the same day if you also have swelling, fever or trouble swallowing or breathing. Read dental emergency: when to go today.

When to see a dentist

Book a visit if the pain lasts more than a day or two, or comes back. If it began after a recent filling, tell us. A small adjustment fixes a high filling. See dental fillings explained.

Dental care is available at both our clinics, in Sayan and on Chhaprabhatha-Variyav Road. Use the booking button below to ask for an appointment.

This guide is general information and does not replace a visit to your dentist or doctor. Read our medical disclaimer