Toothache: Cause, diagnostic, and treatment

What can cause you a toothache?

Toothache is a pain in the tooth or surrounding of the tooth, resulting from nerves in the area being irritated and triggering the pain. Toothache differs from sensitive teeth, as the latter is caused by the wearing of the enamel of the tooth or gum disease which makes teeth sensitive to exposure directly to drinking and eating. 

The most common cause of toothaches is inflammation of the central portion of the tooth called the pulp, which itself contains nerve endings that are very sensitive to pain. As a result, inflammation would trigger nerves which will reflect the pain directly at your tooth. Toothaches also result from tooth decay, tooth injuries, loss of a tooth, or after extraction of the tooth. Also, there is a pain called referred pain – a tooth pain caused by pain in joints between the skull and jaws, ear pain, sinus, and some heart problems.

When do you need to see a dentist?

Rather than a pain in your tooth and your jaw, which persists longer than 15 seconds and can be radiated to the cheek, ear, or jaw. Toothache can be accomplished by pain with chewing, swelling around a tooth, bleeding or discharge around a tooth, teeth being more sensitive, trauma to the area, bad breath, bad taste in your mouth, headache, and fever. 

Meanwhile, if the pain is not relieved by common painkillers, having pain after a tooth is pulled, pain followed by swelling of the face or discharge around the tooth, broken or knock-out teeth, pain at the angle of your jaw, or pain caused by the wisdom teeth, this case requires immediate care by dentists and you need to visit them as soon as possible.

However, if your toothache is from a recent head or face injury, pain followed by high fever or chills, pain followed by a facial rash, trouble swallowing or excessive pain, or jaw pain with chest pain, these symptoms are signs of heart problems or serious inflammation, making them emergency symptoms that need an urgent visit to the doctors.

What can a dentist do for toothaches?

Toothache can be relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Oil of cloves can also be useful in reducing pain, by biting cotton balls soaked with the oil. Avoiding very cold or hot foods and using special toothpaste can make your gum and teeth less sensitive and result in less pain. 

However, visiting dentists is required for a permanent cure of toothaches. Injection of painkillers is being used as a preconditioning treatment for toothaches, followed by direct treatment to the source of toothaches including fillings, pulling of teeth, root canal therapy, and crown procedures. Dentists can provide you with antibiotics to deal with infection, followed by reconstruction of the tooth if needed. Meanwhile, if the cause of the pain comes from another source rather than the tooth itself, they need to be treated directly by a specialist.

In terms of prevention, regular dental care including frequently cleaning your teeth, using mouthwash and dental floss, receiving appropriate amounts of fluoride, and having your teeth cleaned by the dentist at least twice a year can prevent most dental problems. Additional measures including maintaining a healthy diet with less sugar and starch which leads to a risk of tooth decay, avoiding smoking, and wearing a protective guard for preventing knock or injury can greatly reduce the risk of inflammation, crack, or injuries to your teeth.

Dealing with a toothache at Phyathai 1 International

Toothache is one of the most common dental problems, Dental Center at Phyathai 1 International is very experienced in dealing with a toothache for both children and adults. We also work in conjunction with general medicine specialists in case of toothache is referred to as pain from another sickness.  

If you suffer from toothache, our specialist from Dental Center at Phyathai 1 Hospital is ready to deal with it, as we are open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends and 8 PM on weekdays. We recommend taking a reservation for a consultant by phone at number (+66)2-201-4600 ext.3415-21 or by E-mail at [email protected]