“Toothache” is pain typically around a tooth, teeth or jaws. Tooth Pain could be caused due to various factors. In most instances, toothaches are caused by dental problems such as: dental decay, cracked or fractured teeth, an exposed nerve, or gum disease.
To help you prevent, understand, and alleviate tooth pain, we have put up a table to guide you.
| Symptom | Symptom | Possible Problem | Possible Problem | What To Do | What To Do |
| Symptom | Momentary sensitivity to hot or cold foods. | Possible Problem | If the discomfort lasts only moments, sensitivity to hot and cold foods generally does not signal a serious problem. The sensitivity may be caused by a loose filling or by minimal gum recession which exposes small areas of the root surface. | What To Do | Try using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Brush up and down with a soft brush; brushing sideways wears away exposed root surfaces. If this is unsuccessful, see your general dentist. |
| Symptom | Sensitivity to hot or cold foods after dental treatment. | Possible Problem | Dental work may inflame the pulp, or nerves, inside the tooth, causing temporary sensitivity. | What To Do | Wait four to six weeks, If the pain persists or worsens, see your general dentist. |
| Symptom | Sharp pain when biting down on food. | Possible Problem | There are several possible causes of this type of pain: decay, a loose filling or a crack in the tooth. There may also be damage to the pulp tissue inside the tooth. | What To Do | See a dentist for evaluation. If the problem is pulp tissue damage, your dentist may send you to an Endodontist. Endodontists are dentists who specialize in pulp-related procedures. Your Endodontist will perform a procedure that cleans out the damaged pulp and fills and seals the remaining space. This procedure is commonly called a “root canal.” |
| Symptom | Lingering pain after eating hot or cold foods. | Possible Problem | This probably means the pulp has been damaged by deep decay or physical trauma. | What To Do | See your Endodontist to save the tooth with root canal treatment. |
| Symptom | Constant and severe pain and pressure, swelling of gum and sensitivity to touch. | Possible Problem | A tooth may have become abscessed, causing the surrounding gum and bone to become infected. | What To Do | See your Endodontist for evaluation and treatment to relieve the pain and save the tooth. Take over-the-counter analgesics until you see the Endodontist. |
| Symptom | Dull ache and pressure in upper teeth and jaw. | Possible Problem | The pain of a sinus headache is often felt in the face and teeth. Grinding of teeth, a condition know as bruxism, can also cause this type of ache. | What To Do | For sinus headache, try over-the-counter analgesic or sinus medicine. For bruxism, consult your dentist. If pain is sever and chronic, see your physician or Endodontist for evaluation. |
| Symptom | Chronic pain in head, neck or ear. | Possible Problem | Sometimes pulp-damaged teeth cause pain in other parts of the head and neck, but other dental or medical problems may be responsible. | What To Do | See your Endodontist for evaluation. If the problem is not related to the tooth, your Endodontist will refer you to an appropriate dental specialist or a physician. |