Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Why does my new crown hurt when chewing in Glen Iris?

Pain or Discomfort After a New Dental Crown

It is not uncommon to experience soreness or discomfort when biting down on a tooth after a new crown has been fitted. However, persistent pain or sensitivity after a dental crown is not normal and should be assessed by Dr. Daniel Kaufman . There are several possible reasons this might occur.

Common Causes of Pain After Getting a Crown

  1. Crown height or bite alignment issue
    The most common reason for pain is that the new crown sits slightly higher than adjacent teeth, causing excessive pressure when you bite or chew. The solution is to adjust and reduce the crown height to align with surrounding teeth for an even bite.

  2. Underlying tooth decay
    If decay was present beneath the tooth before placing the crown, bacteria may remain trapped beneath it. In such cases, the crown may need to be removed so the tooth can be properly cleaned and restored. Leaving the infection untreated can result in swelling or abscess formation near the affected tooth.

  3. Cracked or fractured tooth
    If the tooth covered by the crown is cracked, pressure while biting may cause the crack to open slightly, resulting in sharp pain. This often requires further dental treatment to repair the fracture.

  4. Gum inflammation or infection
    Soreness or tenderness around the crown can also be caused by gum irritation or infection. This may feel worse when brushing or eating and needs professional evaluation to treat the area and promote healing.

  5. Inflamed or damaged nerve
    If the nerve inside the crowned tooth was not removed during treatment, it may become inflamed or infected, leading to persistent discomfort or sensitivity. Root canal therapy may be necessary to relieve the pain.

  6. Loose crown
    A crown that does not fit securely can move slightly while chewing, irritating the tooth and gums underneath. Tightening or re-cementing the crown can usually resolve the problem.

When to See Your Dentist

If you notice pain, sensitivity, or soreness in a tooth that has been recently crowned, do not ignore it. Schedule an examination , ask Dr. Kaufman a question or schedule an appointment online today.

Why do the gums bleed around my crown in Glen Iris?

After getting a crown attached to your tooth, you might notice sore, red gums that bleed while brushing or flossing. This isn’t normal—and it may indicate underlying problems needing professional attention.

Common Reasons for Gum Inflammation Around Crowns

1. Poor Crown Fit
A poorly fitting crown can trap food and bacteria, making it difficult to clean and leading to gum inflammation and decay under the crown. These hidden pockets become hotspots for infection and gum disease.

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2. Biologic Width Violation
When the crown edge extends too far beneath the gum or invades the biologic width, the body’s immune system reacts, triggering persistent gum inflammation.

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3. Root Canal Abscess
A faulty root canal treatment can trap bacteria in the tooth’s root. This may lead to pain, infection, and swelling or abscess in the bone around the crown.

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Consequences of Untreated Crown-Related Gum Problems

  • Chronic gum swelling and redness

  • Easy bleeding during oral care

  • Persistent bad breath and taste

  • Bone loss and tooth decay

  • Tooth sensitivity and even tooth mobility

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Left untreated, these complications can endanger both your crown and your natural tooth, sometimes leading to extensive dental intervention.

What Should You Do?

If you’re experiencing bleeding, pain, or swelling around a crown, seek a dental evaluation. Only a dentist can pinpoint the cause and offer solutions, such as adjusting the crown, treating infection, or prescribing a deep cleaning.

Addressing these concerns quickly prevents advanced gum disease and damage to your restoration.

Get help and advice on persistent crown-related gum problems—ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment.

What Is Biologic Width around a Tooth and Why Does It Matter in Glen Iris?

The soft tissue lining covers the entire mouth and acts as a barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the body. Where teeth erupt through the bone, the gum must form a tight cuff around each tooth—this area is essential for keeping bacteria out and protecting your overall health.

To safeguard the junction between tooth and gum, every tooth is encircled by a vital “connective tissue attachment” known as the biologic width. This structure is divided into three key zones:

  • Gum sulcus (gum pocket): The shallow crevice next to the tooth, typically 0.69 mm in depth.

  • Epithelial attachment: The layer of gum cells directly attached to the tooth’s surface, about 0.97 mm deep.

  • Connective tissue attachment: The robust tissue anchoring the gum to the tooth, roughly 1.07 mm deep.

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The total biologic width averages 2.04 mm and forms a natural seal against infection and disease. When dental work invades this biologic width, inflammation and bone loss can result.

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Why Is Biologic Width Important for Oral Health?

  • Maintains a natural seal to block bacteria and prevent gum disease

  • Preserves healthy gums and protects underlying bone

  • Ensures restorative dental treatments don’t cause chronic inflammation

Understanding and preserving biologic width is crucial in both dental treatment planning and daily oral care. Learn more about gum attachment features and gum inflammation.

Bad Breath Prevention

Chronic bad breath is also known as halitosis or malodor. It is a common condition caused by bacterial buildup in the mouth leading to inflammation and the production of noxious odors. Or it can be related to medical conditions that include liver disease, diabetes, chronic lung infections, acid reflux, dry mouth or xerostomia, and postnasal drip.

Where do bacteria deposit themselves?

The common bacterial deposits are inside tooth Cavities and around inflamed swollen gums  where there are ideal conditions for them to grow.  Other locations can be around the tonsils, where food particles can become trapped or in dirty dentures.

Cures for Chronic Bad Breath

  1. Good Oral Hygiene: Tooth cleaning with brushing and flossing after every meal goes a long way in the reduction of  odor-causing bacteria in the mouth. It has been found that electric toothbrushes are more effective than manual toothbrushes and flossing is mandatory. If you find that your brushing does not remove the food trapped between the teeth, please come and see us at Tooronga Family Dentistry, so we can instruct you on the right technique and appliances to use.
  2.  Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps in the secretion of saliva that can break down and rinse away the food particles from your mouth and reduce bacterial growth. Drinking milk is also known to reduce the strength of noxious breath odors.
  3. Stop smoking: Cigarettes, pipes and snuff can give you bad breath due to the nicotine in them.
  4. Reduce Coffee and Alcohol ingestion: Coffee has a strong smell that remains on the back of your tongue. Alcohol can be released thorough your lungs for as long as eight to ten hours after you stop drinking. Both alcohol and caffeine can lead to a dry mouth which eventually leads to bad breath.
  5. Chew Sugarless Gum: Chewing gum after a meal can increases the saliva flow in your mouth to fight bad breath and helps reduce cavities.

Please don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have more questions about bad breath or to make an appointment to have the condition of your mouth examined.

Chronic Gum Inflammation and Your Health: Glen Iris Guide to Diet, Risks, and Better Habits

Chronic gum inflammation can linger for months or even years—often unnoticed because it usually doesn’t cause pain. Meanwhile, bacteria and toxins from inflamed gums may increase your risk of serious health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.

Improving your diet and lifestyle in Glen Iris can help reduce chronic inflammation and protect your well-being.

Which Foods Can Trigger Inflammation?

Two common groups in today’s diet are primary culprits: sugar and fat.

  • Sugar:
    Added to many processed foods, refined grains, some dairy, grain-fed meats, and farmed fish. The body struggles to process excess sugar, especially fructose. Overconsumption can cause classic metabolic syndrome symptoms—weight gain, obesity, lowered HDL, raised LDL, high blood sugar, increased diabetes risk, and high blood pressure.

  • Fat:
    A diet high in saturated fat and low in unsaturated fat increases risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and triggers inflammatory mediators. Balancing your unsaturated (healthy) and saturated (less healthy) fats is key for reducing inflammation.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet: What to Eat for Healthier Gums

For Glen Iris families, focus on:

  • More unsaturated fats (like olive oil, fish oil, nuts)

  • Less processed sugar

  • Plenty of vegetables, whole beans, and healthy proteins

Lifestyle Changes That Lower Inflammation

  • Stop smoking

  • Manage stress

  • Maintain a healthy weight

  • Stay active (avoid sedentary routines)

These steps help lower free radicals, C-reactive protein, and cortisol, all of which fuel chronic inflammation.

If you’re in Glen Iris and want advice on gum health, contact our dental team or book your appointment to find personalized solutions for gum problems.

Paracetamol & Toothache in Pregnancy: Glen Iris Advice from Tooronga Family Dentistry

If you suffer from toothache during pregnancy, paracetamol is considered the first choice of painkiller—recommended by healthdirect.gov.au, Australia’s trusted government health information portal. Extensive experience shows no adverse effects for mother or baby when used as directed.

Is Paracetamol Safe for Pregnancy Toothache?

While some reports have explored potential links between paracetamol and increased risk of wheezing, asthma or ADHD in children, current research still supports paracetamol as an acceptable pain relief option if needed during pregnancy.

It’s also crucial to recognize that untreated tooth pain, gum inflammation, and fever can negatively affect both the pregnancy and your child’s health. That’s why it remains essential to relieve pain promptly and address underlying causes.

What Should Pregnant Patients in Glen Iris Do?

  • Use paracetamol for dental pain only as directed by a health professional.

  • Always book an urgent dental appointment at Tooronga Family Dentistry to treat the actual cause—not just the symptoms.

  • Paracetamol masks pain but does not cure the source; untreated dental infection or inflammation can worsen, requiring more pain relief and increasing risks for the developing fetus.

  • Never ignore toothache, bleeding gums, or oral swelling—these require immediate dental attention.

Pregnant and have dental worries?
Call Tooronga Family Dentistry or schedule an appointment online for expert care in Glen Iris.