A tooth can begin hurting quickly without any apparent reason. Tooth pain can also develop gradually after a period of mild sensitivity. The severity may reach a point where relief becomes necessary to carry out normal everyday tasks. Treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis of the source of pain.
Causes of Tooth Pain
The dental pulp is soft tissue inside a tooth that contains nerve tissue, blood vessels and connective tissue. Dental decay, repeated dental procedures, cracks and trauma can cause inflammation and infection of this tissue, according to the American Association of Endodontists. The pain from this can range from none to severe. The symptoms can include extreme sensitivity to hot and cold, pain when chewing or spontaneous and throbbing pain. Pain can also originate in the tissues surrounding a tooth from infected gums. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, periodontal or gum diseases are serious infections that can result in tooth loss. Other body parts can refer pain to the jaw and mimic a toothache, according to the Loma Linda University Medical Center. This includes an earache, sinusitis, temperomandibular joint disorder and even a heart attack.
Pain Relief Treatments
A dentist removing the decay and placing a dental filling may soothe pain from tooth decay that is not yet extensive. According to Johns Hopkins Hospital, warm saline rinses and over-the-counter analgesics such as Ibuprofen can bring relief from pain and swelling caused by a dental infection. More severe pain may require the prescribing of narcotic analgesics such as codeine. The definitive treatment for pain from an infected pulp is root canal treatment. According to the American Association of Endodontists, root canal treatment can save most abscessed teeth. Cleaning the pockets caused by periodontal disease usually eliminates the pain from a gum infection, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Severe gum disease may require periodontal surgery.
Function
Ibuprofen helps sooth tooth pain by reducing inflammation, according to the American Dental Association. Narcotic analgesics such as codeine work on the central nervous system to relieve pain. They are reserved for cases of more severe pain because of their side effects such as drowsiness and potential for addiction. A root canal treatment eliminates tooth pain by removing the source of the pain. After removal of the infected pulp, the body’s immune system along with any prescribed antibiotics can remove infection in the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Time Frame
Notify a dentist at the onset of any tooth pain. Only use warm salt rinses and over-the-counter analgesics until seeing a dentist. Initiation of root canal treatment or cleaning a gum infection should commence as soon as possible to avoid complications or worsening of the condition. Take narcotic analgesics only as long as necessary for pain relief.
Prevention/Solution
Regular dental visits and proper oral hygiene prevent most toothaches from occurring. Consult a dental professional at the onset of any pain or swelling.
