Toothache Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Toothache is pain in the teeth caused by various things. Pain appears due to disturbances that may occur in the structure of the teeth, gums, and alveolar bone as the supporting tissue for teeth, and during tooth growth.
Toothache Symptom
Although they are painful, toothaches vary in severity depending on the cause. On initial examination, the pain itself can feel throbbing or like being stabbed. Usually occurs in the jaw area adjacent to the infected tooth accompanied by pain and tenderness when touched.
Immediately make an appointment with the doctor if your toothache has lasted more than three days, or if it is accompanied by:
- Swelling of the gums
- Fever
- Headache
- Bad smell in the mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Difficult to swallow
- Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
- Pain to behind the ears and neck and head
Toothache Reason
Pain due to toothache usually appears as a symptom of disease, either in the oral cavity or other body parts. Generally, toothaches are caused by cavities. However, toothache in the oral cavity can also be caused by:
Dental caries
Dental caries is a process of damage to tooth tissue due to an imbalance in the demineralization and remineralization cycles, where the demineralization process occurs continuously. Caries is divided into three, namely:
- Email caries, tooth decay that affects the tooth enamel layer, which is the outermost and strongest layer, which is translucent in color (transparent).
Symptoms that appear can be in the form of pain that arises when consuming cold or hot food/drinks, or sweet foods. After hot, cold, or sweet stimuli disappear, the pain immediately disappears. - Dentin caries is tooth decay that has affected the dentin layer, which is the second layer under the enamel, has a yellow color, and is more sensitive to stimulation.
The symptom that appears when exposed to stimulation is pain that will last a few minutes and then disappear. In general, it will hurt if food enters the disturbed area. - Deep caries, namely tooth decay that has reached the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber is a cavity inside the tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and lymph vessels (lymph vessels).
If the damage has penetrated the pulp chamber, there will be spontaneous pain, throbbing (throbbing), and can disturb sleep at night.
Gum Disease
Plaque buildup in the gum area can cause mild gingivitis or gingivitis, which if left untreated can lead to more severe gingivitis or periodontitis, and abscess formation can occur in the gums. This infection can spread and damage the supporting tissues of the teeth.
Tooth Abscess and Abscess of the Gums
An abscess on a tooth occurs as a result of deep dental caries that doesn’t get proper and adequate treatment, then it gets infected. Usually, you will see white lumps on the gums filled with pus.
Teething
Pain due to teething during the growth of baby teeth or changing milk teeth to permanent teeth sometimes makes children experience uncomfortable toothache conditions. Toothache can also be caused by teeth that don’t grow in the right direction.
The growth of teeth tilted to the right or left and even backward away from the midline of the jaw so that they hit the adjacent teeth can cause inflammation which causes toothache which is called pericoronitis.
Usually, teeth that do not grow in the direction of growth are wisdom teeth because there is not enough room for the teeth to grow, causing an anomaly in the growth of wisdom teeth.
Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth can occur due to a descending gum line that exposes the roots of the teeth or due to thinning of tooth enamel due to brushing teeth too hard or consuming foods and drinks that cause acid in the teeth.
Cracked Tooth Syndrome (Tooth Cracked Syndrome)
Cracked tooth syndrome is a disorder in the form of cracks in the enamel and dentin layers that cause tooth pain when chewing food.
Residual Tooth Root Infection
Occurs when the remaining root of the tooth becomes infected. The gums around the roots of the teeth can become inflamed and cause pain.
Loose Tooth Fillings
If the dental fillings fall off, your cavities will be exposed again so that food debris and bacteria can creep in and cause pain and can even cause tooth decay.
Broken Teeth
If your body doesn’t get enough calcium, it will take up calcium reserves in your teeth and bones which can cause your teeth to break and become porous.
Toothache can also indicate the presence of other diseases, namely:
- Sinusitis
- Heart disease
- Facial nerve disorders
- Lung cancer
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of toothache, the dentist needs to do a direct examination. Not infrequently to ensure the condition of the teeth, supporting examinations are also needed.
Examinations that can be done include periapical X-rays (photographs of intact teeth including several teeth from the crown to the root tips to the surrounding jawbone) or panoramic X-rays (photos showing all tooth tissue).
Toothache Treatment
To treat a toothache usually depends on the type of disorder that appears. For example, to treat dental caries, both enamel caries and dentine caries, doctors usually make dental fillings.
Whereas for deep dentinal caries, with only a thin layer of dentine remaining, pulp capping needs to be done first. Pulp capping is the application of a layer containing calcium hydroxide over a thin layer of dentine to stimulate the formation of a new layer of dentin. After two weeks, new teeth can be closed with permanent fillings.
Meanwhile, to treat deep caries, root canal treatment is necessary. After the tooth root treatment is complete, then fillings or artificial crowns are made.
A tooth abscess can be treated by prescribing antibiotics by a dentist. After that, to maintain the teeth, it is necessary to do root canal treatment.
The treatment for cracked tooth syndrome is highly dependent on the line of fractured teeth. If the crack line only reaches the enamel and dentin, the procedure can be carried out as in fillings. If the crack line reaches the pulp chamber, root canal treatment can be performed.
Pain when growing wisdom teeth can be overcome by eliminating inflammation of the surrounding gums by administering drugs. But not infrequently the pain will come back. Therefore, the dentist will carry out a thorough examination. If needed, the doctor may suggest removal of wisdom teeth to prevent tooth pain from coming back.
Remaining infected tooth roots can be treated by prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs. After the inflammation subsides, the remaining root of the tooth can be removed.
To get rid of tooth pain due to sensitive teeth, the cause must be known first. Tooth pain due to erosion of the roots of the teeth can be treated with dental fillings. For daily home care, you can use special toothpaste for sensitive teeth and brush your teeth with a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Prevention
The main prevention of toothache aims to maintain the condition of the teeth which can be done by brushing your teeth. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride at least twice a day by brushing your teeth properly.
It is also recommended that you do tartar cleaning at least once every six months. During routine checks at the dentist, protective fillings for the teeth, especially molars that have deep gaps, will usually also be carried out. Doctors can also do fluoridation gel or varnish treatments on healthy teeth once every six months.
In addition, maintain a balanced and regular diet. Fresh vegetables and fruits that are well chewed are friends for your healthy teeth. Avoid eating too many sweet or sour snacks between big meals. Leftover sweet food stuck to the teeth is one of the enemies of dental health.