12 Sep Toothache – the causes, and how to deal with it when it strikes on a Saturday night?
- A toothache is described as a pain in a particular tooth, several teeth or the jaw, which may vary from mild and bearable to extremely unpleasant and stabbing pain (some women say it reminds them labour pains!). The pain is caused by irritation of the tooth nerve or tooth-related nerve endings.
- Common causes of a toothache:
- A carious cavity: Dental caries is the destruction of tooth tissues due to the effects of acids produced by cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.
- Gum / periodontal diseases: Due to poor oral hygiene, plaque and microorganisms accumulate on the teeth. They release toxins that cause damage to the gums, which results in swollen, inflamed, bleeding and painful gums (gum inflammation – gingivitis). If this gum disease remains untreated, you are at risk of losing your teeth.
- Tooth root sensitivity (commonly referred to as tooth sensitivity) occurs when the roots of the teeth are exposed due to the gum recession. Teeth root are very sensitive to thermal stimuli, which is why the problem is most commonly felt when eating hot or cold food.
- A tooth may break due to excessive biting force (e.g., an accidental stone among salt crystals) or a large untreated carious cavity, where the tooth can no longer withstand the physiological biting force. In case of a broken tooth, pain occurs even when touching the relevant tooth with the tongue.
- Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, which may be caused by bruxism (teeth grinding), arthritis, etc. The pain can spread to both jaws.
- Erupting wisdom teeth can cause severe dental pain and even trigger a rise in body temperature.
- Dental fillings (seals): Sometimes the cause of a toothache may be a tooth that you have had filled recently or a long time ago. Usually the pain is acute. This can happen because of the infection present under the filling, which spreads to the tooth pulp (nerve) and damages it. In this case, the endodontic treatment of the canal root is required. The pain may also occur if dental plaque and microorganisms enter the space between the filing and the tooth, which may happen due to the shrinkage of the filling when hardening and the resulting micro-permeability.
- A toothache may also be felt due to sinus infection in the ear and upper jaw.
- A toothache may also strike on a Saturday night when your dentist is sound asleep. Therefore, we recommend that you visit a dentist and oral hygienist regularly, as well as take an excellent care of your mouth and teeth to avoid the unpleasant pain. However, if a toothache has already stricken, take a look at our list below so that you could help yourself (though we have not tested any of these methods personally) before the Monday arrives or the dentist returns from a vacation.
- First of all you should take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, i.e., Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Aponil, Olfen and the like.
- ‘Sensodyne Therapy’ (other toothpastes for sensitive teeth also may be used) is suitable for carious dental cavities: rinse the mouth with warm water and place Sensodyne toothpaste into the carious cavity. You can feel a gnawing at first, but it should bring relief later. However, the pain may return after having a meal due to the removal of the toothpaste from the carious cavity.
- ‘Whiskey, Soda & Saridon Therapy’ is said to be very effective, though somewhat unpleasant: add a teaspoon of baking soda and a powdered Saridon tablet to a shot of whiskey. Rub or rinse the aching tooth.
- ‘Coldrex and Theraflu Therapy’ is claimed to be very effective: dissolve the packet of Coldrex or Theraflu powder in one-third of a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth.
- Clove oil has been known since old times as an effective remedy to sooth pain. Rub the painful tooth and gums around it with clove oil, and if you do not have the oil, just put a clove (you will find it in the kitchen) in your mouth and suck it.
- ‘Onion Therapy’: grate a small amount of onion, place it on the tooth and gums, hold it for a while and then spit it out.