Pain in teeth, gums or jaws is mainly caused by dental diseases, such as:
- Caries
- abscess or infection,
- gum disease,
- Fracture or fracture of a tooth, etc.
Some diseases can cause intermittent toothache, for example, a problem of the temporomandibular joint (temporomandibular joint disease).
Contents
Causes of toothache
The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay. Caries is a progressive erosion of the tooth caused by bacteria.
- In patients who participate in scientific studies, intense pain often occurs after a tooth filling, if it has only been performed approximately correctly.
- Many patients experience pain after root canal treatment. In these cases, one feels intense pain when chewing food.
- Gum problems are another common cause. The individual may notice inflammation of the gums, which can spread to the bone that surrounds and supports the tooth structure.
- Gum shrinkage is another disorder that can be the cause of severe toothache.
Gum shrinkage (which leads to the exposure of small areas of the tooth root) can be treated by covering the exposed zone. - A broken or fractured tooth can also be the cause of this condition. The most common reason for a broken tooth or tooth fracture is trauma to the tooth due to an accident or injury.
- Inflammation of the tooth pulp (pulp) is a rarer cause of pain. The symptoms of tooth pulp inflammation are: mild but constant pain and a higher sensitivity when chewing. In this case, a dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in healing the inside of the tooth) should be consulted. Endodontic treatment may be necessary to correct the problem.
- A tooth abscess (an aggravated stage of tooth decay that occurs when left untreated) can cause severe pain.
The bone surrounding the tooth with the abscess becomes infected.
To fix this problem, root canal treatment may be necessary.
Some people suffer from mild pain and a feeling of pressure on the teeth and upper jaw.
These symptoms can be seen in people who suffer from bruxism (or teeth grinding).
There is no specific therapy for bruxism, but it can be mitigated by eliminating the factors that lead to this condition (such as insomnia, smoking, stress, alcoholism, malocclusion, etc.).
When a wisdom tooth breaks through, you feel a stabbing toothache.
Wisdom toothache often occurs when these body structures are not in the correct position and push the already existing molars forward.
There are 4 wisdom teeth, two at the top and two at the bottom. On each jaw arch there is a tooth on the left and right.
The dentist usually advises to remove the tooth.
After the extraction, the pain is felt for about 24-48 hours and the cheek can swell very much.
Other causes
Often the pain is not caused by tooth or gum problems.
Pain in this area also occurs
- in heart disease (angina or heart attack), In many cases, heart patients complain of pain that radiates into the teeth or jaw.
- Ear infections, people who suffer from an ear infection, often complain of severe pain in the teeth or upper jaw, especially in the temporomandibular joint.
- Infections of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis).
- In rare cases, toothache may be due to a neurological condition called trigeminal neuralgia.
- In infants, breaking through the milk teeth can cause pain and irritability.
- Problems closing the temporomandibular joint (temporomandibular joint) can cause pain in the following areas:
- Jaw
- Neck
- Shoulder
- Back
Toothache symptoms
At the beginning you feel only slight pain.
This pain becomes stronger when eating or drinking hot or cold food.
A few seconds after the feeling of warmth or cold has passed, the pain usually decreases.
As the focus of inflammation grows, the toothache becomes stronger and pulsating.
They can radiate to cheeks, ears and head.
Other symptoms that may indicate periodontal disease include:
- Jaw swelling
- Swelling around the affected tooth
- Bleeding from the tooth or secretion discharge from the entire area if the gums are also affected
- Pain in gums and jaw that becomes sensitive to touch
Often the pain intensifies with additional pressure on the tooth. This can happen while chewing or lying down.
Sometimes the tooth appears normal and the source of pain is difficult to determine.
In these cases, pain may be felt when touching the tooth.
Only rarely do the cervical lymph nodes appear enlarged.
Toothache after a filling
Most people experience pain after filling a tooth.
The dentist may advise treating the tooth damaged by caries with a filling. A filling also helps to prevent future caries and restores the functionality and shape of the tooth.
After dental treatment, toothache can often occur.
After a filling, most people experience mild or severe toothache.
Sometimes the tooth becomes extremely sensitive.
After treatment, the tooth may be sensitive to air, pressure or sweet, cold or hot foods. In most cases, these sensitivity problems and toothache disappear on their own within a few weeks after a filling.
Types of toothache after a filling
Pain in the area of the filling: If you feel pain in the filling area, you should visit the dentist again. It may be that the hole has not been closed properly.
Chewing pain: This pain can occur when trying to bite something.
After the anesthesia has subsided, you can feel the pain that can last for a while. If you immediately feel pain when chewing, the cause could be a filling that was not done correctly. When you chew, you put pressure on the filling.
This usually happens when the filling interferes with the bite, protrudes from the tooth and touches the upper or lower teeth.
Pain when touching each other’s teeth: This pain is due to two different metal surfaces touching each other, like a silver amalgam filling in one tooth that has just been closed and a silver grain on another tooth. Usually the pain passes after a short time by itself, otherwise you should visit a dentist
Transferred toothache: In this case, one feels pain or sensitivity on the tooth that lies next to the treated tooth. With this type of pain, there may not be a problem with the treated tooth and the pain should pass on its own.
Constant toothache: If the tooth decay has been very deep and has reached the tooth pulp, a constant toothache could occur (especially when eating), which can persist for a few weeks even after filling.
This constant toothache indicates that the tissue is no longer healthy and root canal treatment may be necessary to treat the pain.
Allergic symptoms after a filling: An allergic reaction may occur after a filling due to the silver amalgam used. In this case, one suffers from itching, rash and other allergic symptoms and the filling of silver amalgam should be replaced with a filling of composite material.
Allergic reactions to fillings made of silver amalgam are rare.
Stabbing toothache
Stabbing toothache indicates acute pulpitis.
If a person goes to the dentist and complains about these ailments, it can only mean that the infection has reached the pulp and caused pulpitis (that is, acute inflammation of the tooth pulp).
If caries is present, the enamel is affected first.
From there, the infection reaches the dentin and finally (if the tooth is not treated) the tooth pulp.
When the pulp has been reached, the infection can be chronic or acute.
If it becomes chronic, it causes pain and possibly necrosis, thus leading to the death of the pulp.
If the infection proceeds acutely, it causes intense inflammation of the pulp, which is accompanied by pulsating toothache, which increases at night in bed.
In short, extremely severe toothache develops.
Toothache after making a crown
Causes and solutions
Heat generation by the drill
One of the most common causes of this pain is the sensitivity caused by the heat generated by the drill.
During the production of the crown, especially if the tooth surface is very subtle, the heat generated by the drill can damage the tissue of the pulp.
This heat can lead to a violation of the pulp called pulpitis (inflammation of the pulp).
Hypersensitivity of externally treated teeth
If a tooth needs a crown, this usually means that it is damaged in its structure and cannot cope with the forces acting on it alone.
Therefore, he needs a dental crown.
In most cases, root canal treatment is performed beforehand to avoid hypersensitivity.
Sometimes, however, the dentist prefers not to take the risk of root canal treatment, as this not only increases the cost of the dental crown, but can also damage the tooth and reduce its lifespan.
In these cases, the pulp with its functioning nerve fibers can be hypersensitive and cause toothache. If the affected person has intense pain, it is better to perform root canal treatment and remove the pulp tissue.
Defective temporary crown
Sometimes a person may feel pain due to a defective crown, because it has cracks, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the tooth to hot or cold drinks. In this case, it should be repaired or renewed.
Crown with wrong dimensions
Once the final crown is inserted, the individual may also feel pain or hypersensitivity because the crown is not the right dimension, too narrow (it bumps against the gums and causes pain) or too wide (therefore, bacteria can settle in the space between the crown and the tooth and cause an infection).
Toothache during pregnancy or breastfeeding
If you have a toothache, you should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. In addition, you must inform the dentist if you are pregnant.
The dentist administers painkillers to relieve the pain.
He might also prescribe some antibiotics, such as penicillin, to treat the infection.
In most cases, normal dental treatment is postponed until the time after birth.
If the infection is severe (as with caries), dental treatment can also be performed.
The exact problem is determined using an X-ray.
The main concern of pregnant women during dental treatment is the effects of X-rays and anesthesia on the child in the womb.
However, one should not worry about this, as the dentist will avoid anything that could pose a risk to the child.
To protect the child from the harmful effects of X-rays, a special type of apron is used.
In addition, the dose of anesthesia is kept as low as possible to guarantee the protection of the fetus.
What to do? Treatment for toothache
Treatment depends on the problem. Medicines or natural remedies may be useful, but in serious cases, intervention by the dentist is unavoidable.
What can you take? Medication for toothache
Over-the-counter medicines are medicines that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. These medications relieve pain, especially if the cause of toothache is not a serious problem.
Most often, the doctor prescribes ketoprofen (alrheumatism) to quickly relieve the pain, only rarely does he recommend:
- Nimesulide (Aulin CH)
- Diclofenac (Voltaren, Diclac)
- Metamizole or noramidopyrine methanesulfonate (Novalgin)
The following are some over-the-counter medications for toothache (non-prescription):
- Aspirin
- Paracetamol (ben-u-ron)
- Ibuprofen (Dolormin or Nurofen)
- Naproxen (Aleve)
Painkillers for toothache in children
Children can be given a painkiller such as acetaminophen, but you should consult your dentist to determine the exact dose.
Knowing the weight of the child, the doctor can determine the dose of paracetamol. Locally acting oral medications, which are available in liquid form, can also relieve the pain.
For these liquid medications you need a soft brush to be able to apply them easily.
It is only necessary to dip the brush into the drug liquid and apply the solution to the painful area.
Antibiotic for dental infections
You can’t treat a bacterial tooth infection (like an abscess) with painkillers alone. The patient also needs to take antibiotics to clear the infection. In other words, treatment for a toothache-causing infection is a combination of antibiotics and painkillers. The following are some antibiotics:
- Amoxicillin (Amoxypen or Augmentin)
- Clindamycin
- Metronidazole
- Erythromycin
Natural remedies for toothache
One can take over-the-counter medication to relieve the pain, but should definitely consult the dentist if there is an injury to the tooth structure.
A visit to the dentist is also essential if the pain is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, headache or facial swelling around the affected tooth.
In addition, one can use some natural remedies to temporarily relieve the pain.
Clove oil
Clove oil has been used for a long time to treat toothache. To relieve the pain, you only need to soak a clean cotton ball with a few drops of clove oil and place it on the affected tooth. Clove oil contains a chemical element called eugenol.
This chemical product has analgesic properties.
If this substance is applied in the tooth area, it anesthetizes it and thus provides relief.
Cloves also have an antibacterial effect.
Therefore, the use of clove oil helps reduce the risk of bacterial infections.
Onions and garlic
Dental infections can occur when bacteria react with food particles that get stuck between the teeth.
The onion is known for its antibacterial properties. Therefore, it can be very effective to put a piece of onion on the affected tooth for a few minutes.
Crushed garlic contains allicin, an organic sulfur compound that has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Chewing garlic can therefore partially help relieve the pain.
Asafoetida
Asant is a plant containing gum resin, rich in vitamins and minerals. It is also believed to have therapeutic properties. It can be used to relieve toothache.
To support the healing effect, you can make a paste by mixing a pinch of asant with a few drops of lemon juice.
Then you can dip a clean cotton ball into this paste and use it to treat the affected tooth.
Vanilla extract
The therapeutic properties of vanilla extract are also due to the presence of eugenol. To use vanilla extract for toothache, you need to soak a cotton ball with a few drops of pure vanilla extract and apply it to the affected tooth.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass contains many vitamins and minerals, such as:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin e
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
It also contains phytochemicals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Using a mouthwash made of wheatgrass can effectively prevent tooth decay.
Salt water solution
Gargling with a warm salt water solution is an old home remedy to relieve toothache.
By rinsing the mouth with a warm salt water solution, you can reduce the swelling.
This may also relieve the pain.
Herb tea
Herbal teas such as chamomile or mint tea are among the best home remedies for toothache.
One can also use the flowers of Acmella oleracea (also known as hussar head) to relieve toothache.
A tincture of echinacea and achillea can successfully help treat tooth and gum problems.
Mallow or sage tea can relieve inflammation and thus toothache.
Cold and heat packs
Using heat or cold packs can improve pain and swelling.
To do this, you can wrap ice in a clean towel and place the pack on the affected area.
You can also put a still warm tea bag on the cheek. The tannin present in the tea helps numb the area, so temporary relief is achieved.
What should you eat? Diet and nutrition
In an acute phase or after dental treatment, one should eat only soft potatoes, fruits and vegetables.
Very cold or hot foods, as well as foods that contain a lot of sugar, should be avoided.
Read more:
- Falling out of milk teeth
- Treatment of periodontitis
- Devitalized tooth and root canal treatment
- Yellow teeth
- Tooth abscess
- Tooth extraction
- Dental caries
- Wisdom tooth