Dental Pain

Toothache

Toothache occurs from inflammation of the middle portion of the tooth called pulp.

The pulp contains nerve endings that are overly sensitive to pain. Inflammation of the pulp, or pulpitis, may be caused by dental cavities, trauma, and infection. Referred pain from the jaw may cause you to have symptoms of a toothache. The first step toward relief is to find out what's wrong.

Common causes of toothaches

Tooth decay is the most common reason for toothaches. If tooth decay goes untreated, an abscess can develop. This is an infection near your tooth or in the pulp inside your tooth.

See your dentist right away if you think you have a dental abscess. In rare cases, the infection can spread to your brain, which can be life-threatening.

A toothache can also be caused by an impacted tooth. This happens when one of your teeth, usually a wisdom tooth, is stuck in your gum tissue or bone. As a result, it can’t erupt, or grow in.

Toothache Symptoms

Toothache and jaw pain are common complaints.

There may be severe pain from pressure, or from hot or cold stimuli. The pain may last for longer than 15 seconds after the stimulus is removed.

As the area of inflammation increases, the pain becomes more severe. It may spread to the cheek, the ear, or the jaw.

Other signs and symptoms that may lead you to seek care include the following:

• Pain with chewing in your teeth or jaw
• Headaches
• Your teeth are sensitive to heat or cold. You'll feel a couple of seconds of pain when something hot or cold hits them.
• Bleeding or discharge from around a tooth or gums
• Swelling around a tooth or swelling of your jaw
• Injury or trauma to the area
• Bad breath
• Bad taste in your mouth

Treating a Toothache

Toothaches require medical treatment. Home treatment may temporarily relieve your pain while you wait for your dentist or doctor’s appointment.

Dental treatment

Most people go to a dentist for a toothache since most toothaches are caused by problems with your teeth.

Your dentist will use X-rays and a physical exam of your teeth to detect tooth decay or other dental problems. And they may give you pain medication and antibiotics to treat an infection.

If your toothache is due to tooth decay, your dentist will remove the decay with a drill and fill the space with dental materials. An impacted tooth may require surgical removal.

For Jaw pain:

Prolonged periods of poor posture can put strain on the muscles and ligaments in your back, leading to pain.

• Doloplus: May be helpful for problems in the joint of the jaw in adults.
• TMJ Pain: If pain occurs every time you open your mouth widely, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may be the source of the pain.
• Activities That May Worsen Pain: Yawning or taking a large bite of food may worsen the pain.