A toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve in the root of a tooth or surrounding a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) infection, decay, injury, or loss of a tooth are the most common causes of dental pain. Pain may also occur after an extraction (tooth is pulled out). Pain sometimes originates from other areas and radiates to the jaw, thus appearing to be tooth pain. The most common areas include the jaw joint, ear pain, sinuses, and even occasional heart problems.
Bacteria growing inside your mouth can contribute to gum disease and dental decay, both of which can cause pain. Often, gum disease will not result in any pain. You can prevent the majority of dental problems by flossing, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. The dentist may apply sealants and fluoride, which are especially important for children’s teeth.
Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated. Because of the serious oral health and general health problems that can result from an abscess, see your dentist as soon as possible if you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum that usually is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day.
There are a variety of treatments for tooth disease depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health. Treatments range from nonsurgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues. Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on.
How to prevent tooth pain(/toothache）?
Brushing habits and diet habits are fundamental to preventing tooth pain and other forms of dental disease. These two factors are in the hands of the patient.
1.Brushing habits: correct technique is paramount (circular motion aiming at the gums). Inter-dental cleaning to remove bacteria between the teeth is considerably overlooked. A dental professional should show you how to remove this bacteria effectively so you can implement the technique on a daily basis. Fluoride in toothpaste is now common standard-double check your toothpaste to ensure it contains fluoride (all the big brands will). Consider a daily fluoride rinse-no harm using extra fluoride exposure if you follow the instructions properly. Click here to learn more about tooth brushing or here to learn about inter-dental cleaning.
2.Diet habits: brushing 15 minutes after all meals can remove substances which bacteria feed on that can prevent the formation of harmful acids that dissolve the tooth tissues. More info on diet advice can be found here.
Regular Check-ups are essential to spot disease signs early on.