What is a toothache?
Toothache can be defined as pain experienced in and around the
teeth and jaws due to factors like tooth decay, abscessed tooth, tooth
fracture, damaged filling, infected gums or some repetitive motions like
chewing or grinding of teeth. Toothache can be felt in different ways, at times
it can be constant pain or the pain will come and go. The pain will be very unbearable
or mild. For few the pain will be more severe during nights especially while
lying down. The toothache can get worse while eating or drinking anything that
is either too hot or cold.
At times it is very difficult to detect whether the pain is in
the upper or lower tooth and it also becomes difficult to understand which
tooth is aching. Sometimes when a tooth in the lower molar is infected, one may
assume as if the pain is coming from the ear. And if the toothache is in the
upper molar then one may assume that it is from the sinuses or the air-filled cavities in the cheekbones and forehead. The jaw area which is close to the infected tooth may also
become sore and tender.
What causes toothache?
When the innermost layer of the tooth which is also
termed as dental pulp gets inflamed it causes toothache. This dental pulp
consists of sensitive nerves and blood vessels. The dental pulp can get
inflamed due to the following factors;
- Tooth decay – This leads to cavities on the hard surface of the tooth
- Cracked tooth – A minor crack can be formed on the tooth, it is mostly very small and not visible with the naked eyes
- Loose or damaged fillings
- Receding gums – In this the gums contract and this causes exposure of the more sensitive portions of the tooth root
- Periapical abscess – In this there is pus accumulation at the end of the tooth due to a bacterial infection
There are many other factors that can cause pain
which is very similar to toothache and this includes the following;
· Periodontal abscess – In
this there is pus formation in the gums due to a bacterial infection
·
Ulcers on the gums
· Sore or inflamed gums
around the tooth that is breaking through like in case of growth of wisdom
tooth
Sinusitis – this causes pain around the upper teeth and
jaw portion
When to meet a
dentist?
When the toothache persists for more than a couple of days, it
is best to meet the dentist at the earliest to detect the cause of the pain.
The longer the diagnosis and treatment is delayed, the pain will get worse. If the
toothache remains untreated, then eventually the dental pulp inside the tooth
will begin to get infected. This condition can lead to dental abscess with
severe and unbearable pain. Certain painkillers can be given for temporary
relief from the pain.
How is a toothache
diagnosed by the doctor?
The dentist will
conduct a physical examination and get some information about the medical
history of the patient. The doctor will also enquire about the pain like from
how many days is the patient experiencing pain, has the pain increased over a
period of time, is the pain mild or severe, the exact location of the pain, and
if anything makes the pain better or worse etc.
The dentist will
conduct a complete examination of the mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, tongue, ears,
sinuses and nose. The patient may also have to do an X-ray or some other tests
basis the dentist’s suspicion of the cause of toothache.
What are the symptoms
of toothache?
Every person may have
different signs and symptoms of toothache, which can be any of the following;
- Continuous, sharp and unbearable toothache. Few people may experience pain only when there is any pressure applied on the tooth
- Swelling around the tooth
- Fever
- Headache
- Pain while chewing
- Hot or cold sensitivity
- Foul tasting discharge from the tooth
- Bleeding around the tooth or gums
How can toothache be
treated?
The treatment of the
toothache will be basis the cause of the pain and this will be detected by the
doctor after conducting the physical examination and the X-ray report.
- If the toothache is caused due to a decayed tooth, it will be treated by removing the decayed portion and replacing it with a filling.
- If the toothache is due to a damaged or broken filling, then the remaining filling is removed, decay if any is cleaned and a new filling will be placed.
- If the dental pulp is infected then there will be a need to do a root canal. In this treatment option the decayed pulp is taken out and replaced with a special type of filling to avoid any further infection and a cap is placed on the tooth.
- The tooth will have to be extracted if none of the above options are possible or if the tooth is stuck between another tooth and jaw.
How can toothache be
prevented?
The best option to prevent any toothache or any other dental
issues is to keep the teeth and gums always healthy as much as possible. Some
of the ways to do so are;
- Reduce eating sugary food and drinks – Limit the intake of such kind of items and try and restrict it to only mealtime.
- Brushing teeth – One must brush their teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that consist of fluoride. Also gently brush the gums and tongue.
- Thoroughly clean the area between the teeth using a dental floss and if required make use of mouthwash.
- Avoid smoking as this can worsen the dental problems
- Regular dental check-ups – the time gap between dental check-ups vary from person to person depending upon the heath of the teeth and gums and also the risk of developing any future dental problems. The dentist will be in a better position to suggest when the patient should have the next check-up basis the oral health. For children, it is best to have dental check-ups every six months this will help to identify any tooth decays and it can be treated in an early stage.
