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What Causes Toothache?
Our mouths are very sensitive to pain. Compared to what we feel in other parts of our bodies, pain experienced in our mouth seems much more excruciating. When you find yourself with a pain in your mouth, it becomes hard to focus on our jobs and responsibilities and we cannot enjoy the food that we eat.
We know that toothache is uncomfortable, but what are the causes of toothache? There are many things that may make us experience toothache. Among the common reasons include cavities and gum disease. Others reasons include irritation of the nerves in the tooth or a cracked tooth. Children can experience toothache from growing teeth. Adults with wisdom teeth may experience toothache due to impaction or eruption.
Cavities
Cavities or dental caries is one of the most common causes of toothache. A tooth is composed of a hard outer coating, similar to a white shell, called the enamel. Below the enamel is another layer called the dentin. Both the enamel and dentin cover and protect the soft living tissue inside the tooth known as the pulp. Inside the pulp are blood vessels and nerves, which are the conduits for the sensation of pain. Having a healthy tooth means the pulp and its nerves are unexposed and protected.
Bacteria in your mouth can form acids that will dissolve throught the enamel and dentin on your. As a result, cavities are formed. Small cavities on the enamel and dentin of a tooth are hardly noticed because they do not yet cause any pain or discomfort. However later on, as the cavity becomes bigger and deeper and penetrates into the pulp, your tooth will start feeling pain. Food particles and bacteria can gather within the cavity and irritate the tooth pulp. Foods that are very hot or very cold can also send aching sensations to your tooth. A dental abscess may develop if the pulp becomes infected.
Treatment for small cavities is done by putting in a filling; for larger cavities, a crown may be required. If the pulp of the tooth is affected, a procedure called root canal can be done. In the event of severe infection, the tooth may need to be removed.
Gum Disease
Gum disease or periodontal disease is another reason behind toothaches. Plaque made out of food, bacteria, and saliva can not only form on teeth but also along and under our gumlines. The bacteria in the plaque expels toxins that irritate gums and can eventually result in receding gums. The same bacteria can also instigate bone loss at the roots of our tooth. If the gum disease worsens, small pockets may form within the gums. Because of the bacteria inside them, further bone loss, inflammation of gum, and severe pain can be the end result.
To treat or prevent gum disease, plaque needs to be removed. . Plaque can be removed from the roots by tooth scaling and root planing which needs to done by a dentist. If the gum is already inflamed, that layer of inflamed tissue may have to be removed. Once the recession of the gum tissue and bone loss at the roots reach critical level, your nerves will be exposed and you will start to become very sensitive to cold or hot food or beverages.
Cracked Tooth
If you have cracked a tooth because of a physical accident or from chewing something hard, the tooth nerves also may become exposed. Once again, this will lead to toothache. You can treat cracked tooth by placing a protective crown over it.
Eruption
When a tooth is at its growth stage and it emerges from the gum, the term is called eruption. Eruption of a tooth can affect the adjacent gum and can become swollen and inflamed. The solution for toothache resulting from eruption can be intake of antibiotics and pain killers.
Impaction
When a tooth has a slanted growth trajectory, it can push down into bone or into another tooth instead of growing upwards. This is known as impaction and also causes toothache. Impaction is usually associated with wisdom teeth. Recommended treatment for impaction includes antibiotics, medicines for pain, and/or extraction of the wisdom tooth.