Toothache

What is a toothache?

A toothache is pain in or around a tooth. The pain can be caused by an infected tooth, an infected gum, an irritated tooth nerve, or a problem with your sinuses or jaw.

How does it occur?

Pain may occur if you have tooth decay. Decay may:

Irritate the nerve of a tooth.
Lead to bacterial infection of the pulp. The pulp is the tissue surrounding the blood vessels and nerve in the tooth.

Other possible causes of a toothache are:

a fracture or crack in a tooth
a damaged filling in your tooth
repetitive motions such as chewing gum more than usual or grinding your teeth during sleep
receding gums
a loose crown
any injury that may have bruised the tooth.

What are the symptoms?

Tooth pain may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. Sometimes it may hurt only when you put pressure on the tooth. Most often you will feel pain in the area of the problem tooth, but sometimes you may feel pain in a different area. Cold or heat may make the pain much worse.

In some cases, you may have swelling around the tooth or get a fever or headache. Sometimes there is foul-tasting drainage from an infected tooth.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will examine your teeth, gums, and other areas around your mouth. If your teeth are in good condition, your provider will check your ear, throat, jaw, or sinuses to see if they may be causing the pain. In severe cases of toothache, you may have blood tests or x-rays.

How is it treated?

Because a toothache can have a variety of causes, the best way to treat your toothache is to see your dentist and follow his or her instructions. Generally you can wait to go to the dentist until the next available appointment. Until then your health care provider or dentist may recommend pain medicine or prescribe antibiotics. Pain medicines often used for a toothache are acetaminophen or an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen.

If you have significant swelling or fever, you may need an emergency dental visit.

If a tooth is infected, proper treatment is important to prevent spread of the infection to other parts of the face, skull, or possibly even the bloodstream.

How can I prevent toothache?

The best way to prevent a toothache is to prevent damage to your teeth by:

brushing after every meal with a fluoride toothpaste
flossing to remove food particles between the teeth and to stimulate healthy gums
getting dental care as often as your dentist recommends, usually every 6 months.

The most important times for regular dental checks are during childhood and in middle age. (During middle age, gum disease may begin to cause dental problems.)

A healthy diet is the cornerstone of dental health. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains is healthy for teeth and gums. Avoid foods made with refined sugars, such as sweets and white bread, and sweet, sticky foods, such as dried fruits, which stick on the teeth and can cause decay. Foods such as raw apples and popcorn help clean the teeth and make good snacks.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File DNT3859F.HTM Release 9.0/2006