How is Toothache Treated? What is good for Toothache?

Toothache is mostly the result of some problems in the tooth; It is a very irritating pain felt in the tooth, in the jaw and in certain parts of the face, reducing the quality of life of the person, usually severe. Toothache can occur for many reasons. While minor toothaches, which may be caused by gingival irritation, may resolve spontaneously after a while; For severe toothaches caused by some oral and dental problems (tooth abscess caused by a bacterial infection in the center of the tooth, gum infection, etc.), it is necessary to consult a dentist without losing time. The complaint of toothache may increase especially at night. Because the increase in intravascular pressure with hormonal changes and vascular enlargement together with it cause an increase in the severity of toothache at night.

What causes toothache? What causes toothache?

The questions “What causes toothache?”, “What causes toothache?” can be answered as follows.

A tooth consists of three layers:

Enamel: The hard outer layer of teeth above the gum.

Dentin: The slightly softer layer under the enamel. (It is a living structure. It consists of 70 percent mineral salts, 20 percent organic matter and 10 percent water.

Pulp: The nerves and blood vessels in the center of a tooth.

Dentin is made of densely packed microscopic tubes that go from enamel to pulp. If the dentin loses its protective enamel coating; Harmful substances such as germs, toxins, and hot, cold or sweet stimulants can pass through the dentinal tubes and have a harmful and painful effect on the living pulp underneath. As the pulp tries to repair and defend itself, it responds to these noxious stimuli by becoming inflamed (this is called pulpitis). Pulpitis is the inflammation of the dental pulp (dental pulp) mostly caused by dental caries.

There are two types of pulpitis:

Reversible pulpitis: The damage to the pulp is not extensive and has the potential to heal if the tooth is properly treated.

Irreversible pulpitis: The inflammation and damage to the pulp are too extensive for the pulp to survive even with prompt dental treatment.

Tooth decay is the most common cause of pulpitis. When we eat sugary foods and drinks, the bacteria in our mouth consume the sugar and secrete acid. Over time, the acid can dissolve a hole in the enamel of our teeth that allows bacteria and their toxins to enter the softer dentin layer and pass through it to irritate the pulp.

A side effect of pulpitis is increased blood pressure around the nerves within the pulp. In cases of irreversible pulpitis, the increased pressure inside the tooth limits the amount of blood that can enter the tooth. If enough blood does not enter the tooth, the pulp dies painfully due to lack of oxygen. Besides tooth decay, other possible causes of pulpitis include loose, leaky or missing fillings, gum wear, having sensitive teeth, placing a dental filling near the pulp.

Tooth decay is the primary cause of toothache for most children and adults. Bacteria living in the mouth thrive on sugar and starch in the foods consumed. These bacteria form a sticky plaque that sticks to the surface of your teeth. Acids produced by bacteria found in plaque can penetrate the hard, white coating on the outside of the teeth (enamel), forming a cavity. The first sign of rot may be a feeling of pain when eating something sweet, very cold, or very hot. Sometimes decay appears as a brown or white spot on the tooth. On the other hand, it cannot be said that all bacteria in the mouth are harmful. As a matter of fact, the beneficial bacteria in the mouth play an important role in maintaining the oral balance. In summary, oral diseases occur when the bacterial balance of the oral cavity, which hosts different types of bacteria, changes.

Other factors that can cause toothache may include:

Sudden breakage of a tooth or tooth root
Tooth abscess caused by a bacterial infection
Sometimes you may experience discomfort on a single tooth or teeth when exposed to cold air, liquids, and certain foods. This means that your teeth may have developed a sensitivity to one or more stimuli, such as cold weather. Tooth sensitivity develops from exposed dentin, the tissue that underlies both enamel (the hard outer layer of your tooth) and cementum (the tissue that covers the root of the tooth).
Sinus infection causing toothache
A cracked or broken tooth
Bruxism (teeth grinding).
Misaligned teeth: If your teeth are crooked or not properly aligned, this can cause uneven pressure in the mouth. As a result, orthodontic treatment is required for crooked teeth.
Inflammation of the root of the tooth or gums
Damage to tooth filling
Tooth extraction (forced extraction of 20 teeth). Wisdom teeth can cause pain. As the wisdom teeth (molars) erupt, inflammation of the gums around the erupting crown often occurs. This can lead to gum infection later on. Pain usually occurs in the lower third molar and may extend to the jaw and ear. There may be swelling in the affected area because the jaw cannot be closed completely. In severe cases, pain in the throat and floor of the mouth can make swallowing difficult.
Temporomandibular joint disorders are classified as pain in your jaw joint; however, it can also affect your teeth and cause pain.
Very rarely, a submandibular space infection, also called Ludwig’s angina, can cause tooth and jaw pain.
Very rarely, a condition called cavernous sinus thrombosis: A clot forms in the cavernous sinus, located at the base of the skull, and can develop in an untreated face, sinus, ear, or tooth infection.

What are the symptoms of toothache?

The most common symptom of toothache is pain in the tooth, which can be throbbing and continuous, but in some cases, toothache occurs when pressure is applied to the tooth (for example, as a result of biting something).
Teeth with mild to moderate reversible pulpitis are generally more sensitive to cold or sweet foods and drinks. Teeth with irreversible pulpitis are initially sensitive to cold, but as the condition worsens, the pulp becomes increasingly sensitive to hot things. As a result of this process, cold drinks can even help reduce severe throbbing pain.
Swelling around the tooth
a bad odor in the mouth
A person with a toothache may also experience fever or headache.
Toothache can also be a symptom of a much more serious health problem. It is necessary to consult a doctor without losing time in case of infection symptoms such as high fever, red colored gums, unpleasant or salty taste in the mouth, discharge along with toothache or jaw pain, difficulty in breathing or swallowing.

How is toothache diagnosed?

Before starting any treatment, your dentist will need to make sure the source of your pain has been properly identified. Therefore, the dentist may ask patients the following questions:

How long have you had a toothache?
Describe the pain? Where is it located? Is it a sharp pain or a mild throbbing pain? How much does it hurt?
Does the pain start spontaneously?
Are your teeth sensitive to hot or cold foods and drinks?
Has the pain affected your sleep?
Your dentist will then examine and X-ray your teeth to identify the problem causing the pain.

On the other hand, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can often be used to diagnose serious rare diagnoses such as Ludwig’s angina or cavernous sinus thrombosis.

What are the treatment methods for toothache?

The dentist may first take an X-ray or perform other clinical tests to find the source of the toothache. The best way to stop tooth or jaw pain is primarily with pain relievers. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics (such as amoxicillin) if there is swelling of the gums or face, or if the patient has a fever.

The dentist may apply a desensitizing varnish or fluoride treatment to help strengthen the tooth and seal any part of the tooth that may be sensitive. It may be determined that a deep cleaning is necessary to remove harmful bacteria and plaque stuck below the gum line.

If it’s been a while since the last dental examination, the dentist can find many factors causing toothache. In this case, the dentist will give priority to dental treatment in order of seriousness. If the cause of the toothache is an infection of the dental nerve, root canal treatment, i.e. removal of the infected pupil and replacement with a sealant material may be needed. The resulting infection is caused by bacteria infiltrating the cavity where the dental pulp is located.

If sinus infection, muscle or nerve problems cause toothache or jaw pain, plans will be made for the treatment of the underlying health problem of the toothache.

What are the home remedies for toothache? What is good for toothache?

Questions such as ‘What are the home remedies for toothache?’, ‘What is good for toothache?’ are asked. Although the simple procedures listed below can reduce your toothache sensitivity, the important thing is not temporary solutions, but permanent treatment approaches.

Salt water can loosen the debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Mix a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth well.
Use dental floss to remove food particles or plaque stuck between your teeth.
Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if the toothache is caused by trauma to the tooth.
Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) helps reduce inflammation and pain. Hydrogen peroxide should be diluted with an equal amount of water. The solution should never be swallowed.

What herbal products are good for toothache?

Clove oil: Clove oil is a natural antiseptic that numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Rub a small amount of clove oil on a cotton ball and apply it to the painful area. Or add a drop of clove oil to a small glass of water and rinse your mouth well.

Vanilla extract: The extract in vanilla extract temporarily relieves pain and its antioxidants help the area heal. A cotton ball will be helpful to apply the extract to the tooth and gum several times a day. Use your fingertips or a cotton ball to apply the vanilla extract to the teeth and gums several times a day.

Mint tea: In order to benefit from the calming properties of peppermint tea, it should be boiled and waited for the mint leaves to cool. You can apply the cooled mint tea to the aching area.

Garlic: Make a crushed clove of garlic paste and apply it to the affected area. Garlic can kill bacteria (contain the antimicrobial allicin) and relieve pain.

Homemade thyme oil: Thyme has powerful antioxidant and antibacterial properties. To relieve toothache symptoms, you can add a few drops of oregano oil to water and gargle. You can dilute thyme essential oil with a few drops of clean water and add it to a cotton ball. Then you can apply it to the affected area.

However, it should not be forgotten that all these may be temporary solutions that may only work in some cases, and a dentist should be consulted without wasting time.

How to prevent toothache?

The best way to prevent toothache is to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. For this, the following points should be noted:

Regular dental examinations should not be neglected.
Brush your teeth for about 2 minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Toothbrushes should be changed every 3-4t months or less.
Interdental space should be cleaned daily using dental floss or an interdental brush to remove food, debris, and plaque.
Smoking should be avoided.
A regular, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein and oily fish should be followed, and the consumption of sugary foods and beverages should be minimized.

Why is my toothache so severe?

The pulp inside your tooth is a soft substance filled with nerves, tissues and blood vessels. Pulp nerves are among the most sensitive nerves in your body. As a matter of fact, when the nerves in question are irritated or infected with bacteria (abscess), it can cause severe pain.

Does toothache trigger a headache?

It is wrong to think that toothache occurs only in the teeth and mouth area. Because toothache can also be felt in various parts of the body. Toothache can also cause headaches. Other problems, such as sinus infections, can sometimes spread as both a toothache and a headache.

Can toothache go away on its own?

In some cases, toothache or tooth sensitivity may go away on its own. This is most likely explained as a reversible inflammatory response of your tooth. However, it should be remembered that once a dentist has made an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your pain, further damage can be prevented and a permanent solution to toothache can be found.

Is cologne, alcohol good for toothache?

According to hearsay information, there is no benefit in placing alcohol cologne on the tooth in order to relieve the pain during toothache. Because such substances do not have pain-relieving and therapeutic properties. Moreover, pressing alcohol and cologne on the teeth will also cause damage to the gums. The pain in the tooth will disappear only when the existing problem is eliminated.

Is it useless to have a root canal treatment and a filling in the hurting tooth?

‘An aching tooth is of no use to me. Root canal treatment and filling do not work.’ The idea is definitely not true. Regardless, a prosthesis as healthy as one’s own tooth is not possible either aesthetically or functionally. As a matter of fact, it is important for a person to protect their own teeth in a healthy way.

Does toothbrush cause toothache?

The tooth structure can be damaged by the use of a hard toothbrush or the abrasive feature of an excessively soft toothbrush. Wear in the area where the dominant hand usually coincides with excessive use of paste or brushing incorrectly can cause both gingival recession; It also causes pain felt when the soft root surface is exposed as a result of gingival recession.

"The content of the page is for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment."