What Causes Such Pain In My Teeth?

AtlasRipple Updated: 2025-08-06

Frequent vomiting

Frequent vomiting can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw. The stomach acid produced by vomiting can attack tooth enamel, causing toothache and other problems.

Sinusitis

When you have a cold or allergy, the mucous membranes in your sinuses can become clogged, leading to inflammation and sinusitis - often caused by viruses or bacteria.
Dr. Calnon, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Los Angeles, explains that sinus infections can sometimes cause teeth to suddenly hurt due to pressure from the sinuses. "Sinus infections put pressure on the teeth, causing pain when biting down," says Dr. Calnon.

TMJ

Are you suffering from sudden jaw pain? This could be a sign of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition is most common in people between the ages of 20 and 40 and limits jaw movements.
TMJ disorder can present itself through a number of symptoms, such as pain or tenderness in the jaw, neck, shoulder and around the ear, difficulty chewing and a locking of the jaw. These signs may also be accompanied by clicking, popping or grinding noises when the jaw is moved.
If your dentist suspects you are suffering from TMJ disorder, they may perform a physical examination to find out more. This may involve making different movements and using different instruments to determine the severity of your symptoms.

Chipped tooth

Chipped teeth, whether from a simple crack or the start of something larger, are one of the most common reasons for sudden tooth pain. They usually occur when you bite down on something hard like an ice cube or a popcorn kernel.
Teeth are incredibly strong, but they can break with repeated stress, which is why it's important to prevent dental injuries like bruxism and teeth grinding by brushing and flossing regularly.