Having a Toothache?

Toothache is and can be one of the most distressing incidents a person can ever experience in their life. Some have even called it worse than labor pain! Whether it is worse or not, a tooth pain can affect the quality of life in a lot ways – a person experiencing it is usually unable to function, eat, or speak normally. A toothache requires URGENT attention by a dentist. A lingering tooth ache can perpetuate into an infection which can travel to the heart and other organs, especially in immunocompromised individuals. 

That being said, some common causes of a toothache are outlined here, just as a template for a patient to understand what may have caused it to begin with. 

1. Dental caries – caries or decay is the disease of the tooth. The common bacteria to cause that is Streptococcus mutans. There are some bacteria that are symbiotically living in the mouth. S mutans is one of those bacteria. However, the conditions in the mouth have to be just “right”, for that bacteria to proliferate and attack the enamel of the tooth. Once the enamel is breached, the second layer of the tooth called dentin is invaded, and then from there the nerve of the tooth eventually gets involved, which is when a person experiences pain. 
2. Acidic erosion – caused by food and beverages low in pH values. The frequency of intake of these beverages and foods is the main contributing factor here, leading to erosion of the enamel of the tooth and making the teeth vulnerable to dental decay. 
3. Fractures – depending upon what part of the tooth is fractured, it can start with sensitivity to cold, which can then perpetuate to pain if the crack or fracture line progresses. Unfortunately if the tooth has a vertical fracture, it will need an extraction. 
4. Gum disease – usually not a factor when we typically think of a toothache, but ever so often an infection of the gum around a particular tooth can travel to the tooth and infect it, resulting in pain, usually experienced when biting down. Sometimes there will be pus coming from around the tooth as well, which maybe a telltale sign of a gum infection. In a situation like that, both, the gum and the tooth have to be treated. 
5. Trauma – accidents, injuries, usually involving the front teeth, and resulting in fractures can lead to pain. 
6. Sinus issues – this usually pertains to the upper back teeth. If there has been a sinus infection of the maxillary sinus, the upper teeth can experience a dull throbbing kind of ache, usually not to be mistaken for a “real” toothache. 
7. Trigeminal neuralgia – this is very rare, but can affect the teeth on one side of the face. There are usually obvious signs of the sharp, electric quality of pain on the side of the face which is distinct from a typical toothache, but nevertheless should be ruled out. 
8. High spot on fillings – if a patient has recently gotten multiple teeth restored or “filled”, it is essential to let the dentist know if they experience pain because that can also result from high spots on the fillings, which need a simple adjustment.