5 Of The Most Common Causes Of Toothache And How To Treat Them

Toothaches and gum diseases are distressing health problems. Some effects of compromised dental health are bad breath, excruciating toothaches, teeth falling out, discoloured teeth, and bleeding gums.

Toothache Treatment in Dental Maroubra Clinics

Toothache is pain around and in teeth and jaws. It varies in presentation and can come and go periodically or be constant over various periods. Sometimes it can worsen after eating or drinking sweet, cold or hot food and drinks.

Common signs of toothache and other subtle ones need a medical diagnosis to detect and treat. However, obvious toothache symptoms include;

Teeth sensitivity
Fever and chills
Headache
Persistent, localised dull or sharp pain

Other signs include swelling on the gum, throbbing pain in the tooth area, an unusual taste in the mouth or bad breath. Causes of toothache include the following:

1. Tooth Decay, Dental Cavities, and Caries

Cavities are holes that indicate permanent damage to the hard covering of a tooth and are the leading causes of toothache. They aggravate as they progress into the soft parts of the tooth, such as the pulp that contain soft tissue and nerves. Without treatment, they can cause severe infections and tooth damage.

Tooth cavities result from a combination of factors. The mouth contains many types of bacteria in various measures, some good and others harmful. The bacteria form plaque from sugar and starch residues, turning them into acids that erode the enamel. Frequent snacking, consuming sugary beverages, and eating candy and starchy foods cause the accumulation of dental plaque.

Plaque is a sticky film containing starch. This starch is sugar from foods like milk, juice, candy and bread that covers the tooth’s surface.

Over time, it eats into the tooth and causes cavities, especially when a person does not practice good dental hygiene involving regular and appropriate tooth brushing and flossing. The initial symptom of tooth decay is a white spot which indicates the beginning of the weakening of the enamel.

Treatment for Tooth Decay

Regular dental check-ups
Consuming painkillers
Undergoing tooth filling procedures or sealants to stop the deepening of cavities
Keeping the mouth hydrated to wash away plaque and food particles
Wearing properly fitted dental devices
Controlling stomach acid reflux (because when acid flows into the mouth, it damages the enamel)
Teeth cleaning by brushing and flossing to remove plaque
Using fluoride treatments
Using antibacterial treatments such as mouth rinses

2. Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess is a sac filled with pus, usually caused by an infection. The infection could result from tooth decay or chipping or breaking a tooth, creating an enamel opening. Bacteria enter the tooth’s centre or pulp through that opening which causes an infection. The infection spreads from the tooth’s root to the surrounding tissue, like the gum and the bones holding the tooth in the jaw.

Eventually, the infection leads to the accumulation of pus, forming swelling within the tooth. This pressure is what causes toothache. The toothache alleviates once you visit your dental clinic Maroubra. The dentist can release the pressure from the swelling, however, this infection often remains active as a gum disease and continues to cause more pain and damage as it spreads if not well treated.

They are dangerous since they lead to other health complications, such as sepsis and infection of organs like the jaw bone. Other, more serious complications include inflammation in the heart, brain abscesses, and lung problems, all which can be potentially fatal.

Treatment of Tooth Abscess

Antibiotics to clear the infection
Root canal
Extraction of the tooth if severely damaged
Surgery for draining the abscess

You can also take some pain relieving medication to reduce discomfort before your dental appointment.

3. Bruxism or Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the regular grinding of teeth, consciously or unconsciously, for instance, during sleep. It causes jaw muscle injuries and aches. Jaw grinding also leads to the wearing out of teeth and eventually to aching teeth and their loss. Dental in Maroubra clinic reports show it also causes teeth fractures and pain when eating.

Treatment of Jaw Grinding

There is no medical treatment to stop bruxism
Examination of the teeth and jaws in a dental clinic Maroubra to confirm the existence of bruxism
Fitting with night guards to protect the teeth
Undertaking sleep therapy
Prescription of a muscle relaxant

4. Sinusitis

A sinus infection can cause teeth to ache, especially the teeth at the upper back. Sinuses are empty spaces in the skull linked to the nasal cavity. When infected, the tissues within the sinuses become inflamed and cause pain due to the pressure.

The roots of some of the upper teeth lie close to the sinus cavity, and some extend into that cavity. When the sinuses become inflamed, the pain extends to the nearby teeth, hence the toothache.

Similarly, a tooth infection may spread to the sinus cavity, turning the cycle into persistent sinuses or toothaches.

Treatment for Sinus Related Toothache

Visiting a dental surgeon to confirm if the toothache is from sinusitis
Using sinus treatments to drain the sinuses and clear the infection
Receiving dental treatment for an infected tooth

5. Gum Disease

Gingivitis and periodontitis are gum diseases where the main symptom is a toothache. Gingivitis occurs first as a mild infection, but if untreated, it progresses into aggressive periodontitis. These gum diseases cause gum inflammation and the gum’s reddening at the base of the teeth called the gingiva. It advances due to the accumulation of plaque, which causes the infection along the gingiva.

Tartar, which is hardened plaque, causes gum recession and, eventually, tooth loss. Periodontitis causes loss of teeth and can even lead to heart disease.

Treatment of gum disease

Dental scaling to remove tartar
Teeth alignment procedures
Medication to clear the infection

Consult Qualified Dental in Maroubra Surgeons

Toothaches are distressingly painful health problems. Fortunately, they are preventable and curable under the care of qualified and experienced dental practitioners in Maroubra. Early diagnosis, appropriate health choices, and observing principles of good oral hygiene remain key in managing dental health problems. Please book an appointment today for a check-up or treatment procedure to evaluate and stop oral problem.

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