What Are Toothaches and How We Can Help

By Dr. Boris Zusin · Published June 16, 2021

Toothaches are most often caused when the nerve inside the tooth is irritated. It can leave you up at night, cause difficulties with eating certain foods, and can be a daily struggle until it’s treated. The reality of toothaches is that their causes can’t be identified until diagnosed by a dentist. To best understand how your toothache can be treated, it’s essential to understand what can cause the pain and the risk factors of leaving it untreated.

What Causes Toothaches?

Toothaches refer to any kind of pain near a person’s teeth, jaw, and gums. These painful irritations can occur for any particular reason, but most of the time, cavities are the main culprit. Cavities are decayed sections of your teeth that develop tiny openings along the side or inside the tooth’s root, caused over time by the layering of plaque — a sticky film of bacteria that feeds on sugars and produces acids that, left in the mouth, form plaque and eventually cavities.

However, cavities do not cause all toothaches. Other causes include:

• Cracked teeth
• Exposed roots
• Inflamed nerves
• Infections from the ears and sinuses
• Heart disease
• Gingivitis
• Periodontal disease
• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Canker sores
• Gum recession

When Should Someone Seek Dental Care for a Toothache?

When faced with a toothache, it’s essential to pay attention to your symptoms’ severity:

• Consistent Pain: When pain cannot be relieved by over-the-counter medications and has lasted longer than two days, see a dentist to evaluate the problem and determine its cause.
• Bleeding, Swelling Gums: Gums that bleed around a tooth can indicate early signs of gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease.
• Risk of Infection: Severe pain lasting longer than two days, combined with fever, discharge, or swelling around the tooth and face, can indicate the signs of dental disease.
• Broken Teeth: Knocked-out or broken teeth need immediate treatment, as the risk of infection increases significantly.
• TMJ Disorder: Pain that spreads down into the jaw and neck can indicate temporomandibular disorder, caused by direct trauma, tooth grinding, or arthritis affecting the jaw joint.

When visiting your dentist, your medical history and a physical exam will help determine an appropriate diagnosis and identify the factors contributing to your tooth pain. To find out what treatment you need to stop your toothache, contact our office today for an appointment.