Toothaches

When you have a toothache, the pain felt is usually a throbbing pain. It can occur with your mouth at rest or when you are chewing some food. A toothache may also occur with extreme hot or cold temperatures. This type of pain is tooth sensitivity.

The most common cause of a toothache is a cavity. If you neglect to brush your teeth you will not remove the sugars and starches left on your teeth from the food you have eaten. These leftovers on your teeth feed the bacteria that normally live in your mouth. The bacteria thrive on these sugars and starches and form an acid. Over time, this acid destroys your tooth enamel.

Once the enamel is destroyed, a hole is opened on the surface of the tooth. This hole is a cavity. The root of the tooth may become exposed in the cavity and the tooth is left unprotected. The root is where the nerves and blood vessels are found. If the nerve is infected from bacteria, the infection can spread to the jaw and form a pocket or abscess.

Receding gums may also cause toothaches. Receding gums allow dentin to be exposed. Dentin is a softer part of the tooth found beneath the enamel. This causes sensitivity to hot, cold, sweet, and sours. Brushing too hard with a hard bristle toothbrush may cause receding gums. Plaque and tartar can also build up and cause receding gums.

The following are suggestions to help deal with toothaches:

• Aspirin, or other pain medicine when taken orally, can reduce pain until a dentist can examine the tooth. Do not give aspirin to children, and do not take prescription medications that were not given to you by your doctor for this purpose.
• Rinse the mouth with warm water to clean out unwanted food.
• Use dental floss and a water pick to remove trapped foods.
• Limit snacks and foods high in sugar.
• Do not place aspirin or acetaminophen on the aching tooth or gum tissue.
• No toothache will heal on its own. A toothache is a dental problem that needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File DENT4378.rf2 VRS# 4378 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1998, 2000 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.