subject: Visiting Your Dentist For A Toothache- What Is The Cause? [print this page] You have a toothache and ow, does it hurt! Off you go to see your dentist in hopes of a quick resolution and an end to the pain. Toothaches can have a variety of causes.
Tooth decay is one cause of a toothache. Having a tooth that is decaying can start out small but can rapidly advance to a worse stage and can lead to a number of dental issues. A small cavity is likely to cause no pain at all. However once it breaks through the enamel of the tooth and makes its way into the dentin it can cause sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. If it still remains undetected then it will work its way further into the tooth and cause the pain to get worse and to become more intense.
A toothache can also be caused by an abscess. This is something that your dentist will examine you for when you report intense pain in a tooth. An abscess can be a very painful oral experience. An infection that develops below a tooth's root is called an abscess. In this case the pulp of the tooth has become infected. This pocket of infection is made up of pus which is composed of bacteria, dead tissue and white blood cells.
Abscesses cause inflammation and a very painful kind of toothache that sufferers describe as throbbing with sharp pains delivered on an intermittent basis. Those with abscesses cannot always pinpoint to their dentist which tooth is causing the discomfort. Tooth abscesses are often the result of tooth decay and advanced forms of gum disease.
If you have gum disease then it may not cause a particular tooth to hurt or throb but once it becomes advanced it can cause pain in a general sense. Even if you do not experience localized pain then you still need to visit your dentist right away for treatment.
During the earliest stages of gum disease called gingivitis bacteria can bring about inflamed tissues and infection which can then cause pain to start. If left untreated the disease can become more serious and can develop into periodontitis which can cause gum abscesses. Your dental provider will be able to diagnose gum disease by way of an examination and x-rays. If this is what is causing the discomfort in your mouth then he will be able to tell you at what stage it is and what methods of treatment are available.
A crack in a tooth or a broken tooth can give way to a very painful ache. The manner in which the tooth is broken or cracked can affect the severity of the ache. If there is only a small crack in the tooth or in the filling of the tooth then bacteria can find its way into the tooth and from there decay can get underway. If the tooth is cracked in a couple of places then a larger amount of bacteria can enter in. If the break is quite substantial then a dull and persistent pain can start because the nerve of the tooth is opened up and is exposed. The dentist will let you know what course of treatment is best.
