Toothache can have various causes. The nagging or throbbing pain or pain with cold or heat in your tooth or molar is particularly annoying, but does not always have to be because there is a cavity in a tooth. Toothache, for example, can also arise from problems with the gums, damage to the dentine or inflammation. In this article I describe the most common causes of toothache.
Tooth cavities
By far the most common cause of pain in a tooth or molar is a cavity (caries). Cavities are caused by bacteria that live from the food residues (food and drink) on your teeth. These bacteria secrete acidic substances that act on the tooth enamel and ultimately cause a cavity to form in the enamel. When the cavity becomes so deep that the living part of the dental bone is also affected, you get a toothache. So it may well be that you have a cavity right now, but you are not yet suffering from toothache, because the living part of the tooth has not been affected yet.
In the first instance, the pain with cavities is often not too bad and it is more veiled in nature, for example when something cold or warm, air flow or sweets come into contact with the tooth. The longer you wait, the more painful it will eventually become, because the dental bone will continue to be affected. When toothache is caused by a cavity, only the dentist can help you get rid of the pain. You can prevent cavities by brushing twice a day with a good fluoride toothpaste. I recommend anti caries toothpaste for this.
Gum problems
Pain in the teeth and molars can also be caused by receding or inflamed gums. In that case, the pain often develops when touched, for example while eating something hot or cold or while brushing your teeth. The main reason for this is that the tooth necks are exposed, which are more sensitive to touch than the tooth itself. Inflamed gums can have various causes, but good brushing can often prevent many problems. Receding gums can be related to inflamed gums but can also be caused by brushing too hard. I therefore advise everyone to use a soft toothbrush.
Inflamed tooth root
You may experience pain in your tooth due to inflammation of the tooth, root of the tooth or to the nerves in the tooth (pulp). Just like a cavity and gum problems, this is relatively common. A check-up by a dentist is needed to relieve the pain. The treatment of an inflamed root canal is a lot more extensive than when you have a cavity, because the root canals need to be cleaned.
Other causes of toothache
Finally, there are other causes of toothache.
- Toothache can occur with a severe cold. This form of toothache often resolves itself.
- A fall, collision or other injury can also lead to (internal) damage and cause pain. To prevent later problems I advise you to visit the dentist for a check-up.
- Providing a leaking filling for an unpleasant feeling.
- Dental erosion
- Abscess
- Getting through wisdom teeth
- In children, dental pain can be caused by changing the milk teeth. This is especially the case when the new teeth press against the not yet released milk teeth.