Toothache is pain in the tooth. It is also known as odontalgia. There are many reasons for this to happen. The most common is dental caries better known as cavities. A cracked tooth, periodontitis or the gradual exposure of the wisdom teeth in adult hood may also cause you trouble. Inflammation of the dental pulp called pulpitis if caught early on can be reverse. The irreversible form will be obvious due to pain lasting longer than fifteen seconds and over sensitivity in the tooth. End stage pulpitis will require a root canal or extraction of the tooth itself. If one or more teeth that are right next to each other are extracted, in particular the rear or mandibular wisdom teeth, it will lead to the condition known as dry socket which causes pain. Barodontalgia which is a condition where atmospheric pressure causes pain in teeth that have no other issues though this in and of itself indicates the tooth may be diseased.
Toothache can range from being a mild discomfort to agonisingly paralysing. This can be intermittent or continuous. This can be stimulated by mastication, movement of the jaw during eating, or by the atmospheric temperature. An oral check and x-ray by your dentist will diagnose the cause though be advised that severe pain at a certain level may be considered enough of an issue to be classed as a dental emergency.
There are reasons outside of the dental which can cause pain in the oral area also. Myocardial infraction or angina pectoris, cytotoxic chemotherapy induced neuropathy or atypical adontalgia. This last one is a sort of dental pain that can appear in teeth that seem perfectly fine. The pain can spread from one tooth to another over a period of months or years as a dull sensation. The cause of this has not yet been defined though it is hypothesised that it may be caused by the nerves.
Other issues may be due to deterioration in the filling or veneer. These can be caused by eating excess hard or acidic foods. The sugars in sweets are broken down by bacteria in the mouth that secret an acidic substance onto the surface of the tooth corroding it. This is why we use alkaline toothpastes to neutralise this issue from occurring.
During you dentist advised treatment course they will use your medical history to diagnose what needs to be done. They will ask about the location, severity what increased or decreases the sensation and when the pain began. This will be accompanied by a physical exam.
Good oral hygiene like brushing, flossing and mouthwash swilling will help prevent tooth infection. Also trying to eat a diet low in sugars will assuage the causes of dental problems. It is also very important to see your dentist twice a year for a check-up and professional cleaning as they can identify any issues early on to help you prevent issues arising. Dental care is of critical concern to your health.
