Toothache Pain

What is a toothache?

A toothache generally involves pain of the teeth and jaw resulting from a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint, or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. The severity of a toothache can range from mild to excruciating. Sometimes chewing, cold, or heat may exacerbate the pain. Common dental causes of toothache include dental cavities, dental abscess, gum disease, irritation of the tooth root, cracked tooth syndrome, temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ), impaction, and eruption. A comprehensive exam at Rockefeller Dental can help determine the cause of the toothache.

Sometimes, a toothache may be a sign of a more serious medical issue not directly involving a problem centering on a tooth or the jaw. This type of pain can be symptomatic of diseases of the heart, ear infections, and sinus problems. Therefore, evaluations by both dentists and medial doctors are sometimes necessary to diagnose illnesses causing "toothache." After your evaluation at Rockefeller Dental, your dentist will advise you if a medical examination is necessary.

What is a cavity?

The most common cause of a toothache is a dental cavity. Cavities are holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface, and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath the enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp. Blood vessels and nerves are located in the pulp.

Bacteria in the mouth convert simple sugars into acid. This acid, combined with saliva, dissolves the enamel and dentin and creates cavities. Small shallow cavities may not cause pain and may go unnoticed by the patient, but larger deeper cavities can collect food debris, causing pain. This is commonly known as a toothache. A toothache from a larger cavity is the most common reason for visiting a dentist. If you are experiencing toothache pain, call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.