Q. I’ve been getting regular tooth pains, which affects my sleeping, eating and drinking. Can you help?

A. We have all known the feeling you get when you have a toothache. Sometimes, having a cold or hot drink can bring about shooting pain and each bite of food leaves you wincing.

A constant toothache means that you are left feeling down, having sleepless nights and feeling miserable. Sometimes, we think having a toothache will pass but in most cases it’s a sign something in your mouth isn’t right.

This is why it’s a good idea to go and visit your dentist so they can diagnose the problem for you and help treat it.

The first thing to bear in mind is that not all tooth pain is a result of problems with your teeth. Often, it can be due to a problem with your gums. A gum infection causes pain and at times bumps on your gums that may have filled with pus. To reduce the risk of getting an abscess, it’s best to visit your dentist and get it treated.

Cavities are another source of tooth pain. If you have a cavity it can cause teeth to become sensitive to foods and drinks, resulting in sharp pains. If the dentist does discover a cavity then it can easily be treated with a filling.

If you grind your teeth, it can wear the teeth down and lead to jaw pain and severe headaches. Again, by visiting your dentist they will be able to identify the signs of grinding and help you try and stop.

* For more information about dental issues, contact Synergy Dental Clinics Bolton or Bury, email bury@synergydental.org.uk or go to synergydental.org.uk/dentist-in-bury