What Causes a Toothache?

A severe toothache can be debilitating for adults as well as children. Several things can lead to minor tooth pain. However, in case of severe pain, then there is a high probability of infection or another serious issue that needs quick attention. In this article, you will discover some of the common causes of toothache and their symptoms.

Causes of toothache

It is essential that patients visit the dentist immediately if they start experiencing any of the below situations before it leads to complications.

A cracked tooth

A tooth could get broken or fractured from a hard fall, sports injury or something as simple as teeth grinding. Even the tiniest of cracks can cause severe pain. The teeth could be extensively damaged and require extraction.

Biting on hard substances such as ice, candies or opening bottles with the teeth can harm the teeth. The tooth is usually weaker and brittle after undergoing a root canal treatment or sizeable dental filling, which could make it more prone to breaking.

The signs of a cracked tooth, aside from a visible crack, include sensitivity and sharp pain on that side of the mouth. Although these signs are noticeable, sometimes a tooth crack shows no visible sign. A dental x-ray may be needed to determine the precise location and severity of the break.

Tooth abscess

The pain caused by an abscessed tooth is persistent and causes great misery. The pain can travel as far as the jawbone. A tooth abscess occurs when a bacterial infection reaches the dental pulp — the soft tissues of the tooth located in the center — through a crack or large dental cavity. The pulp contains blood vessels and nerves, which is why the pain is usually severe.

The symptoms of a tooth abscess include fever, facial swelling, sensitivity, pain with eating and swollen lymph nodes. An abscessed tooth cannot be treated at home. Even if the pain stops, a dentist must treat the infection before it spreads further.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth often come with their troubles. Usually, there may not be enough space on the jaw for them to erupt, and therefore, they become impacted. Impaction means the tooth is trapped in the jaw or not located in the right position. Tooth impaction does not only cause pain, but it can also damage nearby teeth. There is a good chance a wisdom tooth might be impacted; therefore, dentists recommend removing them before they cause any trouble.

The symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include tender gums, swollen jaws, bleeding gums, jaw pain, bad breath and pain when opening the mouth. Patients must visit the dentist regularly to keep the growth of the wisdom teeth in check.

Cavities

A cavity, no matter how small, can cause pain. However, if the cavity is deep, the pain can be intense. A cavity occurs when the bacteria in the mouth bind with sugars to form acid-producing plaques that eat away the enamel. If ignored, the cavity will worsen until it reaches the pulp of the tooth. At that point, the pain reaches a whole new level.

Signs of a cavity includes tooth sensitivity, toothache and visible holes in the tooth.