A toothache can be a minor inconvenience, or it can be fatal, according to ABC News. A painful tooth can arise from minor inflammation or signal an infection accompanied by serious medical complications. Toothaches require immediate attention to save the tooth and avoid a possible life-threatening situation.
Causes
The most common cause of a toothache is tooth decay, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Other causes include trauma, dental restorations, cracks and gum disease. Pain emanates from the nerve tissue inside the tooth or outside the tooth in the bone and gums. The dental pulp inside the tooth contains nerve tissue, blood vessels and connective tissue, according to the American Association of Endodontists. Inflammation or infection of this tissue can cause tooth pain. Inflammation or infection within the pulp can spread to the bone, ligament and gum tissue around the tooth and produce pain and swelling. Tooth pain can also have a nondental origin such as the sinuses, jawbone, ear or even the heart.
Symptoms
A toothache can range from a mild sensitivity to a severe, throbbing and constant pain. Symptoms can include hot and cold sensitivity, soreness when touched lightly or during chewing, and jaw pain, according to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Pain may come on quickly without any warning or gradually over days or weeks. Once the tooth becomes infected, swelling of the gum, jaw or surrounding lymph nodes may occur. A bad taste may develop if the infection begins draining through the gum.
Diagnosis
A dental X-ray is very important to get an accurate diagnosis of a toothache. It reveals the presence of decay and the health of the surrounding bone and ligaments. A dentist will closely examine the outer surface of the tooth for any cracks or fractures and test the tooth with ice to determine the vitality of the dental pulp. Special dental instruments for biting and percussion tests help detect cracks and infection in the bone outside the root. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, an abscessed tooth is tender to percussion or tapping with a metal instrument. Probing the gum tissue around the tooth helps determine if a gum abscess is contributing to the toothache pain.
Treatment
Cleaning the teeth can resolve a gum abscess. However, a root canal treatment or tooth removal are the options for treating an abscessed tooth, according to the American Association of Endodontists. Other treatments used to help control pain and infection include warm salt-water rinses, pain medications and antibiotics.
Complications
A spreading of infection to other spaces in and around the face can cause serious problems such as difficulty in breathing, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Misdiagnosing a toothache caused by referred pain from a heart attack poses a life-threatening situation. Potential tooth loss is a complication of toothaches left untreated.
Prevention/Solution
Regular oral hygiene and dental checkups will prevent most toothaches from occurring. A tooth that becomes sensitive to hot, cold or chewing requires immediate consultation with a dental professional.
