What Causes Toothache?

Rossamund
3 min readApr 8, 2022

Even though it’s sharp and sudden or dull and constant, a toothache is hard to ignore. Toothache or toothache is caused when the nerves at the root of the tooth or around the tooth become irritated. Tooth (dental) infection, decay, injury, or tooth loss are the most common causes of toothache. Pain can also occur after the extraction (tooth is extracted).

Toothache pain

The pain sometimes originates in another area and radiates to the jaw, giving it a toothache appearance. The most common areas include the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint or TMJ), ear pain, sinus, and even occasional heart problems.

  1. Broken Teeth

Cracked or cracked teeth can occur for a number of different reasons, but some of the most common include general wear and tear, grinding of teeth, or clenching of the jaw. Types of pain associated with cracked teeth include pain when chewing or constant discomfort in and around a cracked tooth, according to the Journal of Dentistry. If you’ve broken a tooth and there’s a piece that came off that you could save, the NHS recommends keeping the piece in a pot of milk or saliva until you can take it to the dentist. If you take good care of the tooth fragment, your dentist may be able to reattach it.

2. Untreated Cavities that are Close to or into the Nerves of The Teeth

Where previously tooth loss was one of the biggest problems in oral health, advances in technology and better access to oral hygiene products have meant that common dental complaints are growing. A study by the Journal of Dental Research has shown that between 1990 and 2010, untreated cavities became one of the most common oral health problems across the globe. Although not all cavities can be avoided, the best way to keep your teeth free from decay is to maintain regular oral hygiene. Generally, the best way to do this is to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, use a fluoridated toothpaste, and make sure you keep up with your brushing technique.

3. Dental Pulp Inflammation

Pulpitis is a condition that occurs when the tissue in the middle of a tooth, also known as the pulp, becomes inflamed and irritated. This can cause pain and intense sensitivity to things, such as temperature.
Conditions that can lead to pulpitis include:
- Tooth decay
- Trauma to teeth
- Multiple procedures performed on teeth
The pulpitis may or may not be reversible If so, the pain or sensitivity stops within seconds of the trigger being released. If the pulpitis is irreversible, the pain may persist for several minutes after the trigger has been removed

4. Abscess

Tooth abscesses, which may result from untreated cavities or pulpitis, are caused by the buildup of bacteria in the pulp chamber.
The infected pulp chamber tries to drain itself out of the tip of the root of the tooth, which lies under the pulp. This can lead to intense pain and swelling.

Home and Natural Remedies for Toothache Pain

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