Toothache: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Toothache refers to tooth pain, Dental cavities is the most common cause of toothache. It is estimated that around 35% of the world population suffer from dental cavities. Source

Depending on the underlying cause toothache can be a temporary or long term. However, there are complete treatments available for any toothache treatment.

Symptoms of toothache

Symptoms can vary from person to person depending on the underlying cause or disease. Common symptoms include:

• Pain around the tooth
• Redness and swelling in the jaw
• Infection in affected tooth
• Bad odor from mouth
• Cluster headache
• Fever
• Change in the taste
• Swollen glands

Causes of toothache

Toothache is caused by inflammation of the central part of the tooth called the pulp, which contains nerve endings that are very sensitive to pain.

Dental cavities, injury or any other infection in the tooth causes inflammation in the pulp. Which further leads to pain and swelling in the jaw or around the affected teeth.

Tooth Cavity – Tooth decay is permanently damaged areas on the hard surfaces of your teeth that develop into small openings or holes. Usually caused by bacterial infection, and frequently drinking or eating sugary products which sticks to your teeth.

Tooth Abscess – A tooth abscess is a collection of pus or pus sack caused mainly by a bacterial infection. The abscess can occur in different parts of the tooth from variety of reasons.

Damaged Filling – Sometimes your filling gets spoiled, which increases the risk of bacterial infection and tooth decay. Damage filling also one of the common cause of toothache nowadays.

Tooth Fracture – A injury can cause tooth fracture and may lead to heavy tooth pain. In such cases toothache occurs when you try to eat something.

Wisdom Teeth – At the age of 16-21 years, we get blessed with final teeth, which is usually referred as wisdom teeth because it comes at the mature age.

Home Treatment of Toothache

It is advised to visit a dentist to get a permanent solution for toothache. Following is the list of options you can use to suppress tooth pain for a shorter time.

NSAID Painkillers like – Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Tramadol, Diclofenac.

Topical dental pain preparations, such as benzocaine, menthol, sodium mono fluro phosphate.

Clove Oil – Excellent and proven herbal remedy for toothache, it has proven anti-inflammatory properties which help to relieve toothache.

Cold Therapy – Another excellent home remedy, place a cube of ice around the affected tooth to numb the area temporarily.

Hydrogen peroxide – Rinse of Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) can effectively help you to reduce inflammation and pain. Dilute hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of water and rinse well.

Peppermint Tea – The soothing properties of peppermint can be applied to the sore area with a chilled peppermint tea bag, hold this hot tea bag against the tooth and gums.

Dental Procedure to Treat Toothache

Tooth Filling – If you are having tooth cavities or tooth decay, The best option that dentist suggests is tooth filling. In such cases a dentist fills the tooth to make it free from tooth decay.

Tooth Removal – If necessary, sometime dentist removes your tooth and replace it with another cap.

Root Canal – In tooth abscess, dentist remove the pulp and replace it with filling material. It removes the Bacteria that gone into the inner space of the root of the tooth cause infection.

Final thoughts

A Toothache can be moderate to severe, they can be controlled by home remedies, but for a permanent solution visit the dentist to fix the underlying cause of toothache.