Whether it’s sharp and sudden or dull and constant, tooth pain is difficult to ignore. This kind of pain in the teeth or surrounding areas, like the gums or jaw, is often caused by some kind of dental disease or ailment. These are commonly the result of poor or lacking oral hygiene. However, there are also other things that can cause your teeth to ache. Ultimately, any toothache usually will eventually require medical treatment, so it’s best to see a dentist right away to avoid escalating discomfort. Home treatment with painkillers like Cipladon effervescent paracetamol tablets may temporarily relieve your pain while you wait for your appointment.
Common causes of toothache
Toothache is perhaps most often associated with tooth decay as a result of poor dental hygiene. When plaque builds up on the teeth, it turns sugars into acid, which eats away at the tooth enamel. This can cause holes in the teeth, as well as gum disease, both of which can be painful. If the decay isn’t too severe, it’s usually remedied by inserting a filling or a crown after removing the infection. Dental abscesses can also result from poor dental hygiene, although they’re not always painful. However, they don’t go away on their own, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Sadly, fillings are often not the end of a toothache. Fillings can come loose or break, leaving you in agony all over again. And while on the topic of broken things, cracked or damaged teeth can also hurt a lot. Wisdom teeth are also a great source of dental agony, often causing infection when they break the skin but don’t have enough space to emerge fully.
There are also causes of toothache that aren’t a result of infection, broken teeth, or teething problems. Some people have sensitive teeth, and they experience pain when consuming very hot or very cold food or beverages.1
What symptoms accompany toothache?
Aside from the fact that toothaches are painful, they can coincide with other symptoms. The nature of the pain differs from person to person. It may be a constant pain, or a throbbing one, or even a sharp one. Some people may only experience pain when biting down. You may also experience swelling around the tooth, and fever or headache. Also watch out for a bad taste in your mouth from an infected tooth, this can even be accompanied by bad breath.2
How to treat toothache?
There are a number of elements that may exacerbate a toothache. For people with sensitive teeth, this often includes cold or hot foods and beverages. Some people may trigger a toothache by biting down on anything or putting pressure on the teeth. Tooth pain doesn’t generally go away on its own, but its symptoms can often be successfully treated at home, at least for a little while. These home toothache pain treatments should bring some relief while you wait to see a dentist. Over-the-counter painkillers like, Cipladon effervescent paracetamol tablets, can reduce pain and inflammation in the short term. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with saltwater to disinfect your mouth. If you have swelling in the cheeks or jaw, you can also apply a cold compress to the swollen area to reduce swelling.3
How to prevent toothache?
The most effective way to prevent most sources of toothache is to brush your teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste and to floss daily. You should visit a dentist regularly for checkups. In addition to checkups, you could also visit a dentist or oral hygienist twice a year for a professional cleaning. Furthermore, a good diet is also essential for the prevention of toothache and tooth decay. This is why you should cut down on sugary foods, especially treats and snacks.4
When should you see a dentist?
No one likes to go to the dentist, but there are times when a persistent toothache is best looked at by a professional right away, even if it’s one with a mask and a drill. If the pain lasts more than two days, doesn’t respond to pain medication and you have swelling, as well as fever, then contact your dentist as a matter of emergency.5
Disclaimer: The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Sources:
- NHS inform. [online] Available at: <https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mouth/toothache> (22/09/2020).
- Frisbee, E An Overview of Toothaches WebMD [online] Available at: <https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/toothache> (17/11/2020).
- Salt Water Rinses Help with Treating Gum Disease. Excellent Dental Specialists [online] Available at: <https://www.excellentdentalspecialists.com/salt-water-rinses-help-with-treating-gum-disease/> (20/04/2020).
- NHS. (n.d.). NHS UK. Toothache [online] Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/> (04/04/2021).
- NHS. (n.d.). NHS UK. Toothache [online] Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/> (04/04/2021).