General Information
Toothache" usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. Common dental causes of toothache include dental cavities, dental abscess, gum disease irritation of the tooth root, cracked tooth syndrome, temporomandibular disease, impaction, and eruption. Most commonly toothache is the result of dental decay caused by acid-producing bacteria in the mouth.
Bacteria that live in our mouth thrive on the sugars and starches in the food we eat and form a sticky plaque that clings to the surface of our teeth. Acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can eat through the hard, white coating on the outside of our teeth (enamel), creating a cavity.
Pain is caused by the corrosion of the tooth enamel and the exposure of the nerve endings of the tooth. The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. A sensitive tooth is used to define painful teeth due to exposure to extreme temperatures.
Sometimes, a toothache may bee caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart (such as angina or heart attack), ears (such as inner or external ear infections), and sinuses (air passages of the cheekbones).
A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause, whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain with chewing
- Hot or cold sensitivity
- Bleeding or discharge from around a tooth or gums
- Swelling around a tooth or swelling of your jaw
- Injury or trauma to the area
Advice to the Customers
- Consult a dentist in case of severe pain. The dentist may call for tooth extraction, root canal ora simple pulp filling.
- Chew on sugarless gum to stimulate salivation
- Mouthwash may decrease bacteria in the oral cavity but only on a short term basis.
- Avoid hot, cold, and sweet foods and beverages to avoid the aggravation of the pain.
- Flossing prevents the formation of plaque and lodged food debris, thereby lessening the chances for a toothache to occur.
- Brush the teeth three times daily regularly to prevent plaque formation.
Prescription Advice
- Instruct the patient on the medication and how to use it properly, 1.e. name of the medication, frequency of dosage, etc.
- In cases where the toothache is severe or persistent, instruct the patient to consult a physician.
- Discuss advice to the customers thoroughly for more information on the prevention and management of toothache.