Be it a constant ache or a sharp twinge you feel as you take a sip of iced tea, any toothache is distracting, maddening and potentially serious. A few over-the-counter drugs or herbs might provide you some relief, but if you want to fully eliminate the pain, you'll have to determine the cause. That means it's time to stop delaying your visit to the dentist.
Cause
Decay ranks as the most common cause for toothaches, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bacteria in your mouth dine on the sugars and starches you eat and become a sticky substance called plaque. These bacteria produce acids that eat through the outer layer of your teeth, called enamel, and eventually reach and inflame the sensitive nerve center of your teeth, the pulp. Your toothache might also stem from a cracked tooth, a missing filling or wear on your teeth caused by grinding them at night. A sinus infection near the top of your mouth also can emulate the pain of a toothache.
Types
Most toothaches begin as a dull, intermittent pain, according to dentist Lynne Heckert. Cold or sugary foods might trigger the pain. If decay is the cause, your pain will get progressively worse and more sensitive to cold or even touch. Eventually, the pulp will die and begin to disintegrate. At this point, hot substances such as coffee will trigger your pain. If you delay treatment further, the tooth will become infected or abscessed, at which point the pain might become continuous and throbbing. If you feel a sharp pain that occurs only when you bite a hard substance, a cracked tooth is the likely culprit.
Remedies
When you notice a toothache, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you first rinse your mouth with warm water and floss to remove any food particles in your mouth. You can take an over-the-counter painkiller to dull the pain. The Mayo Clinic also suggests you apply a topical antiseptic with benzocaine, such as Orajel, or clove oil, if you wish to go the natural route.
Treatment
If the pain lasts for a few days, or if the tooth or gum around it appears to be infected, it's time to see a dentist. Act quickly, and a simple filling or crown will probably be the only treatment you need to relieve the pain. More serious infections will require a root canal, a method of cleaning the interior of the tooth. If the damage to the pulp is too severe, your dentist might have to remove the tooth to relive the pain. If the pain stems from something besides inflammation, your dentist might prescribe a cortisone-like medication for relief, according to Heckert.
Warning
Don't rely too heavily on painkillers for toothache relief. They're only masking the pain, which will become more severe and capable of serious medical complications if you delay seeing a dentist too long. Never rub aspirin or other non-topical painkillers directly on the tooth. These drugs can burn your gums, according to the ADA. Don't be fooled if a long-lasting toothache seems to go away on its own. The pain might disappear when the pulp dies, but you're still at risk for a serious infection.
