Five potential reasons you may have a toothache

We are all familiar with the term toothache; it is the pain that occurs in and around teeth. Many of us are not aware of the underlying reasons that cause toothache. You are prone to experience tooth- ache if you suffer from one of the following dental conditions –  tooth fracture, abscessed tooth, tooth decay, damaged filling, gum diseases and constant repetitive motion like grinding of teeth(bruxism).

The following are the five commonest reasons for toothache:

1.     Gum infection

A thin film of germs and food debris called as Plaque accumulates on the tooth surface closer to the gum line. When plaque hardens it forms a hard structure called tartar. Tartar irritates gums and causes gum disease .The common symptoms that occur in gum disease are minor bleeding, minor redness and swelling. If the condition aggravates, it will lead to a serious form of gum disease called periodontitis where the bone and tissue that support the gum weaken and the affected person experiences sensitivity and pain.

2.     Cavity

Most toothache cases occur due to cavity formation. A cavity is formed when plaque builds up on the teeth. The formation of plaque happens when many components such as food particles, saliva and colonies of bacteria stick on to the teeth. The plaque releases harmful acids that breakdown the tooth material and creates small pores. If a cavity forms and left untreated, the bacterial colony multiplies and penetrates deeper into the tooth damaging the tooth pulp- which is the area of tooth that consists of soft tissues, blood vessels and nerves. The invasion of germs into the pulp area can create immense pain, and if it is left untreated a person could even lose the infected tooth.

3.     Abnormality of wisdom tooth

If there is abnormal emergence of a wisdom tooth in the wrong direction, the surrounding teeth may get pushed against each other which will cause severe pain. Most of the times, the gum surrounding the partially emerged tooth can get infected due to accumulation of germs.- The condition is known as Pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is characterized by severe toothache, fever, malaise, jaw pain and inability to chew. If the painful wisdom teeth are not extracted, they may cause serious complications such as resorption of tooth that is in contact with the wisdom tooth, damage to bones and cyst formation in the gums. 

4.     Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Temporomandibular joint is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull, which is located in front of the ear. One of the common symptoms of jaw joint pain is persistent toothache. Resolution of jaw joint pain will eventually lessen tooth pain.

For further information on dental care visit Green Meadow Dental, 3579 B Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT 06111 (860)-865-0056. Many people from Hartford come to our office because we are conveniently located next to Target. Our flexible hours and family dental practice makes it easy for busy families to schedule visits for both parents and children. We also service surrounding areas which include Farmington, East Berlin and New Britain.