Tooth Pain: Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment

Contents

In this article, we will take a look at:

• What is Tooth Pain?
• How Does Tooth Pain Occur?
• Who is Prone to Tooth Pain?
• Symptoms of Tooth Pain
• Diagnosis of Tooth Pain
• Complications of Tooth Pain
• Treatment for Tooth Pain

You can click on any of the links above to navigate to the section of your interest.

What is Tooth Pain?

Tooth pain or toothache is caused when the nerve to a tooth is irritated. There are numerous causes for tooth pain. If you have a fever, earache or pain upon opening your mouth wide, you should visit a dentist immediately. If your toothache lasts for more than 2 days or is severe in nature, see a dentist as soon as possible. The majority of dental problems can be prevented by maintaining basic oral hygiene.

How Does Tooth Pain Occur?

There are several different conditions that can lead to the onset of tooth pain. They include:

• Abscessed Tooth
• Tooth Decay
• Tooth Fracture
• Infected Gums – Poor oral hygiene is the cause of infected gums. Over time, it will lead to the build-up of plaque. The bacteria will cause your gums to become red, bleed and swell up. This directly contributes to tooth pain.
• A Damaged Filling
• Grinding Teeth Repetitively
• Chewing Gum Regularly
• Pregnancy –While this sounds quite odd, pregnancy too can lead to tooth problems and tooth pain. Fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy may lead to tooth decay and pregnancy gingivitis. This may cause immense pain.
• Heart Problems – At times, heart problems to can give a sensation of tooth pain.

Who is Prone to Tooth Pain?

You are prone to tooth pain if:

• You have dental infection
• You have any gum disease
• You have plaque
• You have dental decay
• You have injury
• You have cracked teeth
• You have poorly placed fillings or crowns
• You have failing or leaking fillings or crowns
• You have temporomandibular joint disorders
• You don’t have a tooth
• You have obstructive sleep apnea

The above mentioned conditions increase your likelihood of suffering from mild tooth pain to severe tooth pain.

What are the Symptoms of Tooth Pain? How is Tooth Pain Diagnosed?

The symptoms of tooth pain include:

• You may feel a sharp, constant, throbbing sensation in and around one of your teeth. This pain may be caused when you apply pressure on your teeth or even under normal circumstances.
• The area around your tooth is swollen.
• You are experiencing a headache or a fever
• Foul-tasting drainage is leaking from the infected tooth.

If you are experiencing the above mentioned symptoms, visit a doctor immediately to seek treatment for the same. Tooth pain is extremely uncomfortable and seeking a cure at the earliest is the best option.

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Diagnosis

To successfully diagnose tooth pain, your dentist will ask you a series of questions, obtain your medical history and conduct a physical exam. Your dentist will ask you questions about the pain, when it started, its severity, its location and what makes the pain worse. Physical examination and imaging testes are some of the usual steps that your doctor may ask to go for as the first steps.

What are the Complications of Tooth Pain?

The complications of tooth pain may include:

• Sinusitis
• Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis
• Submandibular Space Infection
• These complications are rare and are a result of an untreated maxillary dental infection.

What is the Treatment for Tooth Pain?

The treatment for tooth pain depends solely on the cause of its onset. If a cavity is the reason for your tooth pain, your dentist will either extract the tooth or fill the cavity. Your dentist may perform a root canal if the cause of your tooth pain is determined to be an infection. If you are suffering from fever or swelling of the jaws, your dentist may recommend a course of antibiotics.