Sensitive teeth
Cause: Exposed nerve roots, often due to receding gums
Treatment: Lay off the whitening, tartar control, and baking soda toothpastes. They're abrasive, and some contain phosphates — two causes of sensitive teeth. Also, don't brush so hard. "It can lead to recessed gums," says cosmetic and reconstructive dentist Sherri Worth, D.D.S. If pain persists, visit your dentist for a fluoride treatment to toughen up your choppers.
Lost tooth
Causes: Roller derby, too many Jell-O shots
Treatment: Rinse off the tooth and push it back in right away, then bite down gently on a soft cloth or a moistened tea bag to hold it in place. Knocking out a tooth tears the periodontal ligaments, but some might still cling to the tooth, allowing it to reattach to the gums. Drinking hot beverages, smoking, and constantly poking the tooth with your tongue reduce the chances of that happening. And even if the tooth does reattach, the tissue inside can still die. If so, you might need a root canal, so see your dentist.
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Burned palate
Cause: Hot pizza coupled with impatience
Treatment: Setting fire to the roof of your mouth can leave a painful wound that smarts even more when you eat acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes, says Pia Lieb, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. She recommends applying Kanka ($6.50, drugstore*.com), a liquid anesthetic that sticks to saliva-coated tissue, to protect the burn. Still hurting? Your dentist can prescribe a topical steroid cream to reduce inflammation and help speed healing.
Burned tongue
Causes: Hot coffee, poor flame-eating technique
Treatment: Immediately rinse with a solution of a teaspoon of salt and a cup of warm water. "It's actually very soothing," Worth says. The salt draws the infection to the surface of the tissue, where the body eliminates it, and helps neutralize the acidic environment in your mouth that fosters bacteria.
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Jaw soreness
Cause: Usually grinding your teeth at night. Intense grinders can develop temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, which can lead to splitting headaches marked by pain radiating from the front of your ears down to your lower jaw.
Treatment: If you're relaxed before you go to bed, you'll be less likely to grind. "Give yourself 30 minutes to an hour to wind down before you go to sleep," Worth says. "Try taking a hot bath or listening to soothing music." Sleeping on your back can also help. If nothing else works, see your dentist to get fitted for a night guard (a more sophisticated version of the rubber mouthpiece you wore for field hockey).
Canker sore
Causes: There are many possible. But chips, salsa, and other crunchy, sharp, or spicy foods can further irritate the sore.
Treatment: Apply vegetable oil to a cotton ball and hold it against the sore for about a minute three or four times a day. "The oil helps to coat the sore and protect it from irritation," says Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Maine. You can also try CankerMelts discs ($16 for 24, orahealth.com); one study found they helped heal sores faster than a placebo.
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