A toothache is a pain in and around the tooth. Such toothaches can occur due to irritation from some object continuously irritating the gums. More severe toothaches can occur due to other dental or oral cavity issues. To lessen the pain, dental treatment is required. This includes cavity filling in case of carious lesions, root canal therapy in pulpitis cases, extraction in the grossly carious tooth, and many more. Symptoms Of Toothache There are many symptoms that indicate toothache. Some of them are as follows: -Continuous or throbbing pain -Sharp pain when a person chews on a hard substance -Pain when eating sweet things like chocolate and candies -Sensitivity of teeth -Mobility of teeth that may extend to grade 4 -Pain and tenderness in the oral cavity of the patient -Pain of the temporomandibular joint -Swelling or inflammation of the gums -Redness of the gums -Bad or metallic taste in the mouth -Halitosis (bad breath) -Abscess formation -High fever -Pain that radiates to the temple or ear region -Pain affected by posture change

Causes Of Toothache There are many possible causes of getting a toothache. Some of them are as follows: -Tooth decay The number one leading cause of toothache is tooth decay or, in other terms, the formation of a tooth cavity. This forms when acid-producing bacteria residing in the oral cavity ferment the carbohydrates present in the food particles that eat away the enamel (outermost layer). These bacteria start to produce plaque, which is a tenacious sticky layer that accumulates over time around the tooth. The tooth cavity appears as a small black or brownish spot on the tooth surface. The treatment for a tooth cavity is that the attending dentist will fill the tooth cavity with an appropriate dental material, depending on the affordability of the patient. The treatment includes scaling and cleaning the teeth, filling the tooth cavity, and prescribing antibiotics for any infection. -Tooth abscess A tooth abscess is when a pool of pus develops at the apex of the tooth. In this, the soft tissue called pulp at the core dies. The dead tissue causes the formation of a pocket where bacteria accumulate, leading to pus discharge. Tooth infection or inflammation can cause an abscess. A damaged tooth mostly leads to an abscess formation if it is not treated early. This occurs when a hole or crack lets bacteria inside the tooth. The treatment includes prescribing antibiotics to get rid of bacteria, draining and cleaning out the pus, cleaning and treating the inflamed gums, root canal therapy if the tooth abscess is caused by tooth decay or any gum disease, and implant placement that replaces the old tooth. -Tooth fracture A tooth fracture is a crack in the tooth due to some physical accident. This can happen if someone bites on a hard substance or chews on metallic things. It can also occur in an automobile accident or by simply falling off the stairs. Sometimes, tooth fractures can develop over time. Tooth fracture can lead to severe and throbbing toothache. The fracture site allows the entry of foreign objects that irritate or infect the pulp and underlying network of nerves, triggering pain. Tooth fractures can be repaired with the help of dental glue, veneering, or the placement of a dental crown over the fractured tooth by the dentist. Root canal therapy may also be advised in some cases. -Damaged filling The already-done filling of a tooth can be damaged with a normal mastication process or when a person bites down on something hard. It can also be damaged in patients that have a habit of grinding their teeth. A filling may chip off, crumble, get cracked, wear away with time, or pop out. The general dentist is capable of replacing or repairing the damaged filling. The dentist may place a dental crown on the tooth if it is too damaged to get filling done again. -Infected gums A gum infection, also known as gingivitis, is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis which, along with infection of gums and recession, there is also the formation of a periodontal pocket. A gum infection can be caused by poor oral hygiene of the patient, a poor daily diet, smoking on a daily basis, hormonal changes, some kinds of medications, health conditions like diabetes, cancer and cancer treatments, or genetics. Bacteria from infected gums can build up around the tooth roots. This can cause an infection in the gum tissue that results in toothache. Gum disease may also cause recession of the gums, that is, the gums get detached from the tooth surface. It also causes horizontal as well as vertical bone loss. This leads to the loss of tooth support and ultimately leads to tooth loss. Gum disease or infection is normally treated with antibiotics. But it is recommended that we should get scaling of our teeth twice a year to remove plaque. A medicated mouthwash can help soothe gum and tooth pain. If you have gum disease, you may need several treatments to help save your teeth.

To Sum Up: Toothache is a pain in and around the tooth. Toothache can be mild or severe, depending on the severity of the disease. Toothache can occur due to several reasons, including tooth decay, tooth abscess formation, a damaged filling, impaction of the tooth, mostly the wisdom tooth, tooth erosion, and many other reasons. Toothaches can be avoided by regular tooth brushing and flossing at least once a day. FAQs -When Should You See A Dentist For A Toothache? See your dentist as soon as possible if you have a toothache that lasts longer than one or two days. The symptoms indicate that it may be time to visit the dental office for a severe toothache, a fever, earache, or pain when you open your mouth wide. -What Happens If You Leave A Toothache Untreated? An untreated tooth infection can eventually lead to bacteria in the bloodstream, sometimes called blood poisoning, also known as bacteremia or septicemia. If left untreated, septicemia can cause a severe whole-body infection called sepsis, which can be life-threatening. -Why Does Tooth Pain Come And Go? If the disease is severe, it will reach the dental pulp and then damage the nerves of the pulp. If they are damaged, then pain signals are stopped, and thus toothache subsides.