What causes pain? Tooth decay often kicks it off. Bacteria eat away at your enamel. Bam! Pain flares up. Cracked teeth let in germs too. Infections build up inside. Gum disease adds to the mess. Sneaky. Food stuck between teeth irritates nerves. Trauma from a fall or bite ramps it up fast. Think about it, simple habits lead to big hurts. A dental emergency Salinas doesn’t pick favorites. It hits kids. It hits adults. Spot the cause early. You cut down on suffering.