WHAT DOES DENTAL PAIN MEAN?
Dental pain refers to pain inside or in the surroundings of the teeth. It can be as sharp as pain felt from laceration by a knife or as dull as pain felt from a slight headache.
Dental Pain
It could involve a single tooth or may involve whole dentition.
REASONS FOR DENTAL PAIN:
The cause of tooth pain may be self-resolving or must be treated by the dentist. These are:
Cavities: The dark colored cavity like appearance of tooth is called caries which when goes into the nerves containing pulp leads to pain.
Hard food: The food stuck in between teeth can lead to gum irritation and dental pain which can be resolved after removal of food.
Third molars: The third molars usually do not have space to erupt and cause impingement in the surrounding gums which cause pain.
Cracked Tooth: The tooth may get broken by a sudden blow or caries which led to pain.
Damaged Dental Restoration: Damaged filling or crown given to the treated teeth lead to discomfort and severe damage to gums.
Teeth Grinding / clenching: Teeth grinding mostly during night called as “Night Grinding” lead to severe destruction of outer layer of teeth.
Gum Disease: Gums may become swollen and infected or may also lead to bleeding due to either lack of brushing and cleaning or harsh brushing.
Joint Pain: There is a joint in mouth called “Temporomandibular Joint” which may become infected or face degenerative disease leading to pain and locking of mouth.
Muscle Pain: There are many muscles supporting the oral cavity called temporalis, masseter, lateral pterygoid, medial pterygoid which may become fatigued and lead to pain.
Headaches: Sometimes headaches may seem to originate from teeth. It is the duty of doctor to rule out the cause and treat it accordingly.
DURATION OF DENTAL PAIN:
The cause of toothache decides its duration. The pain may go on its own if it is due to food stuck or infected gums. Thorough brushing and flossing can give relief within minutes.
If it is due to cavities or muscle and joint pain, then it would require treatment by dentist.
WHEN SHALL YOU SEE YOUR DENTIST?
- If the pain does not go away within 48 hours (about 2 days).
- If it is unbearable tooth pain.
- If the patient gets fever and chills.
- Pain during opening and closing of mouth.
- Swelling in and around mouth.
- Difficulty in chewing food.
- Feeling sensitivity every time, you eat/drink something.
TREATMENT OF TOOTHACHES:
Toothaches can be treated in a clinic as well as in the home depending on the cause of pain. Home remedies may work in minor cases.
TREATMENT IN CLINIC:
EXAMINATION AND DIAGNOSIS
History and keen examination of the teeth and surrounding structures lead to a diagnosis.
X-ray
Cause and extent of disease is identified by taking x-rays. There are many types of x-rays, and your dentist will take the appropriate ones if required.
REMOVAL OF CAUSE
One thing must be kept in mind that the pain will keep occurring if the cause is not addressed.
This involves fillings if only the outer part of teeth is involved or root canal treatment if the root portion of teeth is involved.
INSTANT RELIEF FROM TOOTHACHE
Medicine for teeth pain relief might be used for instant pain relief. These are over-the-counter pain killers. These include:
*For Adults: Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug
*For Children: Ibuprofen is the medication of choice for children
*For pregnant women: Medications are avoided in pregnancy as much as possible, but acetaminophen is considered safest of all.
REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED TEETH:
Cavities and cracked teeth are treated with fillings. Teeth may require root canal treatment when the infection has reached roots.
Crown, bridges, veneers and dentures are used to replace extremely damaged teeth or missing teeth.
REMOVAL OF EXTREMELY DAMAGED TEETH:
Extremely damaged teeth may require extraction. Recurring pain from third molars also requires removal.
GUMS TREATMENT:
Gums are usually treated by scaling, polishing and cleaning teeth.
TREATMENT OF GRINDING TEETH/CLENCHING:
Habit breakers such as splints help to control habits and protect teeth.
JOINT AND MUSCLE TREATMENT:
Muscle exercises, massage and surgical treatments may resolve joint and muscle treatment.
HOME REMEDIES FOR TOOTH ACHE:
Toothache remedy usually give short term relief, and they include:
Saltwater rinses
Garlic and clove oil use
Cold compress
Mouthwashes containing Hydrogen Peroxide
Note: It is better to visit your dentist before it gets too late to save your teeth.
TEETH PAIN PRECAUTIONS:
Avoiding any kind of hard food that damages teeth and gums and cleaning teeth regularly is the key to avoid toothache.
See your dentist immediately once you start noticing slight yellow or opaqueness in your teeth.
FAQS:
-What is dental pain called?
Dental pain is also called odontalgia, odontogenic pain.
-Can stress cause toothache?
Yes, stress leads to grinding of teeth which wears out outer layer of teeth and causes tooth pain.
-How serious is dental pain:
Dental pain can be very serious if not treated in time. However, most of the toothaches are treated by proper management by dentist.
-Why do teeth hurt more at night?
Teeth hurt more at night due to the flow of blood towards head when you lay down, causing more pressure around area of toothache.
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