Toothache |
A toothache is a pain or discomfort affecting either a single tooth or, in some cases, a group of teeth. Toothaches are never a pleasant experience, but as any other pain they actually are beneficial for our health by providing an indication that there is a problem in our body. A tooth pain can give us a warning of an injury, inflammation or possible infection that require immediate attention and dental or medical treatment.
The cause of a toothache is not always a problem with the aching tooth itself; it can be related to a nearby tooth, to the tissues around it, or even to a non dental health condition. The sensation of pain is most usually caused by the irritation of the tooth nerves due to:
Other toothache causes not directly related to teeth include:
When you get a toothache, you should visit your dentist for examination without waiting to see if it will pass on its own in a day or two. Delaying treatment may result in worsening the problem, much more severe tooth pain, tooth loss and more expensive treatments.
In most cases the treatment of a toothache will require the involvement of a dentist in order to treat the underlying dental condition causing the tooth pain. For problems like an early tooth decay and tooth sensitivity, a simple dental filling may be enough to stop the toothache. Endodontic therapy (root canal treatment) is necessary when the pulp of the tooth is affected or a tooth abscess is formed. If the tooth is too damaged or a root canal treatment has failed to stop a tooth infection, tooth extraction may be the only option to stop the tooth pain.
Some tooth pain should be considered as normal after several dental treatments such as after a filling, crown, root canal or of course an extraction. But if the pain continues for several days or it becomes extreme, this may be an indication of a complication and you should seek for your dentist’s advice.
If you wake up with an excruciating toothache in the middle of the night, or if you can not reach a dentist, you will definitely need something to temporarily relieve the tooth pain. The most common way for toothache pain relief is the use of over-the-counter painkillers containing aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen which have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Several toothache home remedies may also offer some pain relief for mild toothaches. The most popular and effective remedies include applying cold on the aching area, and using clove oil or tea bags directly on the painful tooth.
For severe toothaches, especially after a tooth extraction or an oral surgery procedure, your dentist may prescribe stronger tooth pain medications such as Vicodin.
Always remember that toothaches must be treated by a dentist. Any toothache pain relief remedies should only used as temporary and never as long term solutions.
A tooth pain can indeed be a signal of a more serious health problem with more dangerous complication than tooth loss, so you shouldn't ignore them. The most dangerous conditions that can cause a toothache as a symptom include:
Some toothaches are a signal of serious health conditions. A tooth pain in the left side of the jaw has been found to be a symptom of heart diseases and in some cases a sign of a heart attack. Never ignore a toothache. Visiting your dentist as soon as possible can prevent serious complications and reduce the discomfort and cost of the required treatments.