Toothache: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention

Toothache, also known as odontalgia, is pain around a tooth or in the jaw.  It is one of the most common types of pain and affects millions of people every year.  Toothache is characterized by sharp, shooting pain.

What Are The Causes And Symptoms of A Toothache?

A toothache is a pain around the tooth or teeth, which can be sharp, throbbing, dull, constant, or intermittent.  A toothache can be caused by cavities, a fracture, a loose or missing filling, an exposed tooth root, an abscess, a damaged tooth nerve, a gum disease, tooth grinding, or jaw clenching.  Toothaches can also be caused by gum disease, a broken or cracked tooth, an infected tooth, impacted wisdom teeth, or an injury.  A toothache is one of the most dangerous dental emergencies because a toothache can sometimes mean serious dental problems and the risk of tooth loss.  If you have the following symptoms of a toothache, schedule a dental checkup as soon as possible.

• Pain around the tooth and in the gums
• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks
• Swelling and/or redness of gums
• Bad breath
• Difficulty chewing
• Bleeding gums
• Cracking around tooth

Treatments

Pain in the teeth can be alarming and distressing for a patient.  The location, intensity, duration, and frequency of the pain are important factors.

Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of tooth pain.  Cavities occur when plaque builds up on the surface of a tooth and attacks the hard outer layer of enamel.  A dental cavity can be filled with a filling.  If a larger cavity is present, the tooth may require a dental crown, a cap that covers the entire tooth.

Tooth pain can also be the result of an abscessed tooth.  An abscess is an infection deep within a tooth.  An abscessed tooth can be treated with antibiotics and root canal treatment.  Another common cause of tooth pain is gum disease, inflammation of the gums.  It can be treated by a deep cleaning procedure.

How To Prevent Toothache?

To avoid a toothache, make sure to maintain proper dental hygiene.  Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with an anti-microbial mouthwash.  Also, make sure to visit a dentist at least once every six months for a cleaning and checkup.

PS Dental in Tigard, Oregon, offers the best dental care services to patients. For more details and appointments, call us at (503) 574-4000 or visit us at 12017 SW 70th Ave, Tigard, OR 97223.