A guide to toothache and how to deal with it


What is toothache?


Toothache is a painful condition in your jaw and facial area.
It usually occurs when a nerve in the tooth root is inflamed or irritated.
It could also occur because of tooth decay, infection or even tooth loss.



Types of toothache

Everybody doesn’t experience the same kind of toothache, and very often a toothache can be a sign of a much deeper condition.
The severity of the toothache may also vary, in terms of the sensitivity of the tooth and the pain intensity.
No matter what type of toothache you suffer from, you should get it evaluated by a dentist.



Sharp tooth pain or sensitivity

When your teeth become extremely sensitive to cold, causing a sharp pain when you eat or drink very cold items, it could be due to loss of tooth enamel.
This deterioration of tooth enamel occurs because of excessive brushing, as a natural part of the aging process, recession of the gums or the deterioration of a tooth cavity.

If your teeth are overly sensitive to heat, this could be because of dental cavities, abscesses or a severely decayed tooth.



Chronic toothache

A consistently aching tooth can be the result of nerve damage.
The nerves of the tooth may get damaged because of severe dental decay or because of excessive grinding of the teeth.
It could also occur because of any kind of injury or trauma to the tooth.



Excruciating pain

Intense, agonizing pain, including a throbbing sensation, is most often because of an abscess or dental infection.
Very often, when the pain is this intense, there is also a noticeable swelling in the face.

If you experience pain while eating, it could be either due to a crack in the tooth or dental decay.



Pain the in back of the jaw
If the pain is mainly concentrated in the back of the jaw, it could be due to impacted back molars.
People, who have a habit of grinding their teeth or TMD can also experience jaw pain.



Serious health issues

A little known fact is that a toothache can often be a symptom of serious underlying health problems.
Studies have shown that a pain on the left side of the jaw can be the first sign of a heart attack.
Your toothache can also be a sign of sinus infection.
Inflammation of the jaw, and pain while eating can be one of the earliest symptoms of a maxillofacial condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).



Symptoms of toothache

The symptoms of toothache can manifest themselves suddenly, and can range from simple discomfort in your tooth to high intensity pain.
At one end, you could have a mild irritation, while on the other, you may experience intense pain in your jaw, head and ear.
The pain may worsen when you eat or drink, especially if what you are consuming is very hot or cold.
Toothache can quickly spread to the entire jaw area, making it tender and sensitive. You may notice that the pain worsens when you lie down, because of the increased pressure on the tooth.



Generally, you will notice:

* Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
* Bleeding in the gums or around the tooth.
* Swelling of the tissue around the tooth.
* Swelling of the jaw.
* Pain while eating.



Causes of toothache

* Dental caries.
* Tooth cavities.
* Tiny tooth fracture.
* Exposed root of the tooth – this can happen when the gums recede, exposing the root.
* Sensitivity – this can also be caused by gum recession, which leaves the sensitive areas of the teeth exposed.
* Dental treatment – sometimes after a dental treatment, the tooth pulp may become irritated, leading to pain.
* A periodontal abscess in the gum.
* Acute ulcerative gingivitis, which causes ulcers on the gums.
* Sinusitis, which can lead to pain in the upper jaw.
* Inflamed gums around a tooth that a just beginning to emerge, like a wisdom tooth.
* Temporomandibular joint injury – this is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull.
* Teething – when babies and children begin to sprout new teeth, this can cause toothache.




Diagnosis of toothache...isn't it obvious?

Even if the toothache you are suffering from is mild, you must get it checked by a dentist immediately. Very often, pain in a tooth has got nothing to do with that tooth. The pain could easily be in another tooth, or in some cases, the other jaw. Your dentist will conduct an examination of your teeth, and look for signs of any damage to the tooth or inflammation. He may also look for sensitivity to heat. If your dentist suspects dental decay, jaw bone injuries, or minute fractures in your teeth, he will take an X-ray before he can confirm these conditions.