Fix Tooth Pain and Toothache

If your tooth or teeth throb with pain, you might have tooth damage. A toothache can be caused by tooth decay or a cavity, or it can be caused by infection in the tooth or gums. An inflammation or infection in the tooth is called “pulpitis,” which occurs when the soft pulp inside your tooth is exposed to air and germs through a cavity or crack. The pulp inside your teeth is full of tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, and it helps keep the teeth alive and healthy. When it is inflamed or infected, this can lead to a constant dull ache in the teeth, pain while eating sweet foods, occasional sharp pain while biting, sensitive teeth, pain the mouth or jaw, swelling, redness, a foul odor or taste in the mouth, the presence of pus in the mouth, or fever. These are all possible symptoms of a toothache. People of any age can get a toothache. If you have any of the above signs or symptoms, see a dentist immediately to find out what is causing your toothache.

There are many possible causes of toothache. The most common cause of a toothache is tooth decay or a dental cavity. When bacteria erode the hard outer layer of the tooth, a cavity can form. Bacteria are a normal and important component of a healthy mouth and body. If you eat an imbalanced diet, however, too much sugar or other less-healthy foods can cause an overgrowth of bad bacteria to build up on the teeth. As bacteria build up, this leads to plaque, which leads to cavities, which can cause a toothache. Your dentist will clean your teeth to remove excessive plaque growth and then fill the cavity. Depending on the severity of the cavity, you may also be prescribed antibiotics.

An abscess can also cause a toothache. An abscess occurs when the pulp inside the tooth dies. This creates a pocket of pus and bacteria inside the tooth; this pocket is an abscess. A damaged tooth can become infected and lead to abscess if it is not addressed promptly and thoroughly, as bacteria can be allowed into the tooth through an unrepaired hole or crack. To treat an abscess, your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic to kill the infection-causing bacteria. Then, the dentist will drain the abscess and clean it out, also cleaning and treating the gums if affected. If the abscess is caused by a cracked tooth, the dentist may also perform a root canal, finally either capping the tooth with a dental crown, or replacing the tooth with a dental implant.

A fractured tooth is also likely to lead to a toothache. A tooth can be cracked or fractured by biting hard food or ice, falling, or sustaining an impact to the face. Sometimes, however, a fractured tooth can simply develop over time. Regardless of its cause, a fracture in the tooth can lead to the throbbing pain of a toothache. The crack in your tooth, no matter how small, can allow irritants to enter the tooth and inflame the nerves, causing pain. Possible irritants include bacteria, small pieces of food, air, and water. Dentists fix fractured teeth with fillings, veneers, or dental glue. Sometimes, a dental crown is recommended, and, depending on the extent of the damage, your dentist may recommend a root canal.

You may also end up with a toothache if you damage a filling. Fillings can be damaged by routine biting and chewing, or by biting something very hard. Fillings may also be damaged by clenching or grinding the teeth. Fillings can crumble, chip, erode, crack, or entirely fall out. This exposes the cavity to new irritants that can lead to a toothache. Fillings are easily repaired, though your dentist may recommend placing a crown on the affected tooth if it has become too damaged to support a new filling. This is one reason it’s important to address a toothache early on.

Gingivitis is a gum infection that can also lead to a toothache. Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is gum disease. Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. The gums may become infected if you do not clean your mouth and teeth properly. Infection may also result from a poor diet, smoking, certain medications, some health conditions, hormonal changes, or just plain genetics. When bacteria from infected gums build up around the roots of the teeth, this can worsen the infection and lead to a toothache. The most common treatment for a gum infection is antibiotics. Your dentist will also recommend regular professional cleanings and may prescribe a medicated mouthwash to help relieve pain. If your gums progress past infection to disease, you may need a deep cleaning treatment, called scaling and root planing, to restore your teeth and gums to health. In more severe cases, dental surgery may be recommended.

Grinding or clenching your teeth can also lead to toothache. Grinding your teeth, called “bruxism,” usually happens while you are sleeping. Clenching your teeth can happen when you’re asleep or awake, and is usually involuntary. Clenching and grinding can both be caused by stress, genetics, or simply by the musculature of the jaw. Clenching and grinding can cause pain in the teeth, gums, and jaw. They may also lead to erosion of the teeth, which increases risk of tooth pain, fractured teeth, and cavities. If your teeth have small cracks on their edges, or rough edges, they may be experiencing erosion due to grinding or clenching. If the edges of the teeth, especially the biting edges, appear transparent, this may be a sign that the teeth are thinning, which is another type of erosion. If your teeth are especially sensitive, or if they appear rounded or have begun yellowing, these are also signs of possible erosion, as are chips and dents in the teeth and fillings. The best way to eliminate toothache that is caused by grinding or clenching is to eliminate the habit itself. Wearing a mouthguard while sleeping can help prevent bruxism, and stress-relief techniques may help reduce clenching.

If you have a loose dental crown, you may also have a toothache. A dental crown is a cap that covers the entire tooth, all the way down to the gumline. A dental crown is usually placed to hold a cracked or broken tooth together, or to otherwise protect a damaged tooth. Dental crowns, which are made of metal, ceramic, porcelain, or a combination of materials, are cemented onto the teeth. Crowns may loosen through wear and tear, or they may crack or chip because of impact or biting a hard object. Sometimes, the cement that holds the crown begins to deteriorate, and sometimes, you can damage a dental crown if you grind or clench your teeth. Regardless of the cause, a loosened crown is likely to cause a toothache. When bacteria get under the crown, this can infect or damage the underlying tooth, triggering a toothache. If there is a cavity or other tooth damage under the crown, your dentist will remove the crown, repair the tooth, and replace the crown. If the crown is merely loose, your dentist can repair it or replace it with a new one.

Just as babies experience discomfort when teething, children can get toothaches when their adult teeth are erupting, and adults may get toothaches as their wisdom teeth erupt. Especially if the tooth is unable to properly erupt and becomes impacted, or if it grows in the wrong direction, this may lead to a toothache. These eruption anomalies may be caused by crowding of the teeth, a baby tooth that won’t fall out, or genetics. An impacted tooth can damage a neighboring tooth, or it may cause nearby teeth to move or loosen. A recently erupted tooth may also move or loosen other teeth. Any of these occurrences will trigger pain in the gums and teeth. Pain can be relieved with an oral numbing gel or with over-the-counter pain medication. Impacted teeth are treated with minor dental surgery, which makes room for the tooth by removing other teeth or repairing blockages, like cysts, that may be preventing a tooth from erupting.

While there are many clinical causes for toothache, it may also be caused by an abnormal bite, a sinus infection, or the presence of debris or food between the teeth, or it may be indicative of a larger health problem like heart disease or angina. If you have a toothache that lasts longer than a day and is accompanied by fever, swelling, pain while chewing, red gums, difficulty swallowing, or a bad taste or smell in the mouth, call your dentist immediately. To soothe a toothache while you wait to see your dentist, you may apply a cold compress to your jaw or to your cheek, and you might find relief in rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. Gently floss to remove any food particles that may exacerbate a toothache, and try over-the-counter pain medications. Early treatment is the best way to prevent the problem from worsening, and regular dental visits and professional cleanings can stop toothaches in their tracks.

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