What causes a toothache?

This is the most common cause of tooth pain. Decay happens when you neglect to clean your teeth properly. Bacteria feed on remaining food particles in the mouth and produce acids that damage the enamel. The teeth may even crack during this process. Sometimes decay appears as brown or black spots.

Caries are most often treated with a filling or, if it has reached the dental pulp, root canal treatment. If the decay has damaged an extensive portion of the tooth, you may receive a crown.

Infection in your mouth may induce a fever. This is the first sign that you may be dealing with something serious. It can develop due to poor oral hygiene, neglected tooth decay, and smoking. You are likely to experience swelling and pus pockets forming near your teeth. Such tooth infections often induce throbbing pain.

If a dental abscess is present it will be drained and you may need a course of antibiotics. Periodontitis may be treated with a scaling and root planing procedure.

Damage to teeth can take place upon trauma, untreated tooth decay, or biting into something hard. Some types of trauma may even need surgical intervention to make sure the pulp doesn’t become infected. The damage is not always visible.

Broken tooth pain may be caused by the following matter getting inside through a crack or fracture:

• food particles,

• bacteria,

• water or drinks, and

• air.

The dental pulp shouldn’t come into contact with any of these substances. Your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong is pulsating pain. The tooth will require a cleaning and root canal or extraction in more extreme cases. It may be closed off with composite or a crown.

Impacted teeth may not only lead to infection but also significant discomfort. When there is soft tissue or bone in the way of the growth of dentition, the pressure may be incredibly painful. This is most common with wisdom teeth. Risk factors include:

• remaining baby teeth,

• cysts, and

• genetics.

The gum and, sometimes, bone will have to be surgically opened. The tooth is removed and, while recovery may be painful, the problem will be gone in the long-term.

TMJ is a painful condition of the jaw. Discomfort is most prominent when patients open their mouth, usually during eating or yawning. The cause is often injury or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. Treatment is very specific, so accurate diagnosis is key.

If you suffer from TMJ or bruxism, your dentist might suggest a nightguard.

Pain after a filling, tooth extraction, a root canal, or implant placement is common. Your dentist will let you know how long it will last. It may be worse for 1-2 days when biting down as well. This can be normal.

If a restoration chips or cracks it may also lead to some discomfort, which is a sign you should visit the office. It will be repaired and the pain should subside.

Sometimes pain from other areas of your body may radiate to your mouth, especially the jaw region. The following conditions may cause a toothache or be confused with dental pain:

• angina,

• cluster headaches,

• heart disease,

• uncontrolled diabetes,

• viral infections,

• nerve disease,

• drug abuse complications,

• deficiency of vitamin B12,

• sinusitis, and

• ear infections.

In the case that the problem is not brought on by anything going on in your mouth, you may receive a prescription or referral to another medical professional.