Tooth Aches
Tooth aches are a common symptom of many oral health issues. If you are feeling pain or discomfort in any part of your mouth, it is often considered a more serious symptom.Toothache facts!
- Toothaches are a common early warning sign among many dental issues.
- A toothache may go away on it’s own, or it could be incredibly severe!
- Having proper oral care is the best way to prevent a toothache.
A toothache is a general term that refers to any pain or soreness felt in your teeth, it could be in one tooth or many, it might indicate a serious dental health issue, or you could just have slightly over-sensitive teeth. If you do have a toothache that is in severe pain you should immediately call your dentist. If you’re wondering about some of the potential causes and complications of toothaches, we wrote this blog specifically for you.
How do you know you have a toothache?
Toothaches are one of the easier dental issues to identify, although you may confuse a toothache with gum soreness, especially if the affected area is right below the tooth (this is still an issue that a dentist should check out.
Specific toothache symptoms include:
- Throbbing pain or gum swelling in or around the affected tooth.
- In some serious cases, it can result in an unexplained fever.
- Sharp pain when pressure is applied through biting, or pressure on the tooth.
- Oversensitivity to hot or cold food or drink
- Shooting, stabbing, or burning sensation (often a symptom of nerve damage)
Common causes of toothaches
Tooth decay
Some early symptoms of tooth decay include:
- Cavities – Blackish, brown spots on your teeth where the enamel is being eroded away.
- Sensitivity – If the enamel is weakened or a root is exposed, the tooth will become more sensitive.
- Pain – You may have an infection in or around your tooth that will cause it to have an ache.
- Gum inflammation – The infection can cause swelling, puffy gums around your teeth.
- Bleeding gums – Bacteria may cause an infection in your gums which will result in gingivitis.
Dental abscess
A dental abscess is the result of the inner pulp being infected by the bacteria build up in your mouth. This is a very serious situation where the dentist will most likely recommend root canal therapy or extraction of the infected tooth. If this infection is left untreated, the bacteria can even get into the gums and jawbone.
Tooth sensitivity
Fractures in your teeth
Plaque and tartar build-up
Are you experiencing a toothache?
Solutions to common toothache causes
- Dental Abscess – Root canal, or dental extraction of the infected tooth.
- Tooth Sensitivity – Better dental care, or use of sensitive tooth products.
- Fractures In Your Teeth – Dentist appointment so the dentist can repair it.
- Plaque And Tartar Build-Up – Depending on the severity, you may need teeth scaling and root planing.
How do I prevent toothaches?
Frequently asked questions on toothaches
If you do have a toothache, you shouldn’t assume you know what the cause is, but one of the most common causes is tooth decay.
If it’s severe or lasts more than a day or two, a dentist appointment is recommended, however, any toothache may be temporary.
Nope, there are different kinds of pain, and levels of severity.
If the pain feels overly severe to you specifically, then it may an emergency. If it disrupts daily activities, then it’s almost definitely an emergency.
It depends on the toothache, you can definitely prevent them, but you may not be able to reverse the impact.
