Toothache Information and Treatment
Toothache is pain in or around a tooth. In most cases toothaches are caused by problems in the tooth or jaw, such as cavities , gum disease , the emergence of wisdom teeth , a cracked tooth, jaw disease, or exposed tooth root. The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild discomfort to excruciating pain, which can be experienced either chronically or sporadically. The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by cold or heat. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental x-rays, can help determine the cause, whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem. Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Atypical odontalgia is a form of toothache present in apparently normal teeth. The pain, generally dull, often moves from one tooth to another for a period of 4 months to several years. This is most commonly reported by middle-aged women . For example, the pain of angina (inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle because of narrowing of the arteries to the heart) is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some patients with angina, a toothache or jaw pain are the only symptoms of their heart problem. Infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause pain around the teeth and jaws. Therefore, evaluations by both dentists and doctors are sometimes necessary to diagnose medical illnesses causing "toothache."
A toothache hurts a lot . The most common cause of a toothache is a dental cavity. These are holes that form when ever-present bacteria in the mouth create tissue-softening acids through the dissolution of sugars found in food. The acid burrows through the outer enamel and dentin layers of the tooth, reaching the soft nerve-filled tissue beneath. When further acids and bacteria come into contact with the nerves, toothache results. Sensitive teeth, where there is pain from contact with hot, cold or sugary substances, is often caused by dental cavities too. However, should the sensitivity be located near the tooth-gum interface then it is possible that the sensitivity is being caused by exposure of the tooth root. Gum disease and even overactive teeth brushing can expose the tooth root, leading to toothache.
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