Six Causes of Toothache
As the saying goes, "A toothache is not a disease, but it can feel fatal when it strikes." A toothache can severely affect a patient's work and life. So, what are the causes of toothache? Let's take a detailed look at six of them below.
1. Dentin Hypersensitivity. Often caused by gum recession, exposure of dentin at the neck of the tooth, or tooth defects. In this case, pain can be triggered by cold, heat, sweet, or sour stimuli, but the pain disappears once the stimulus is removed.
2. Food Impaction Pain. This occurs when food gets trapped between the teeth, leading to pain.
3. Acute Pulpitis. Common in patients with deep cavities, where bacteria from the cavity enter the pulp chamber, causing congestion and inflammation of the tooth's nerve. The pain is often spontaneous and worsens at night and with exposure to cold or heat.
The pain can also radiate to the face, temples, and ears. In cases of suppurative pulpitis, pain intensifies with heat but may decrease or disappear with cold stimulation.
4. Acute Apical Periodontitis. Caused by the progression of acute pulpitis, trauma, or other factors. The affected tooth has a persistent pain and a feeling of floating, making chewing difficult. The patient can accurately identify the problematic tooth, and tapping it causes pain. Since the tooth's nerve is already necrotic, there is no elicited pain.
5. Acute Periodontitis. The nature of the pain is similar to acute apical periodontitis. The affected tooth not only causes pain on chewing and a feeling of floating but also leads to the formation of a periodontal pocket and tooth loosening. The gum tissue may experience recurrent swelling, pain, and bleeding.
6. Periodontal Abscess. Further development of inflammation in the periodontal tissues can lead to a suppurative inflammation. When an abscess forms, the pain is severe, and a fluctuating sensation may appear locally after the abscess is formed. The pain can be significantly reduced or relieved after a periodontal abscess has formed.