Toothache is among the most excruciating types of pain there is. It is mostly the result of tooth decay or inflammation, both of which are treatable rapidly and easily. Depending on the type and place of pain, however, there can be more serious cases. Nevertheless, no matter what type of pain we are experiencing, it is always best to visit the dentist as soon as possible, to get to the root of the problem.
The Most Common Types of Toothache and Their Treatment
Generally, toothache can be grouped into three different types. Sharp pain is the most common one, mostly induced by hot or cold food or beverages. If this is the case, no immediate medical intervention is needed, however, tooth pastes for sensitive teeth are able to work wonders in making our teeth more resistant against high and low temperatures. On the other hand, sharp pain can also be provoked by decay at the tooth neck, tooth grinding, a misplaced crown, a filling too high or a broken tooth. All these problems can be solved quickly and easily by carrying out the adequate dental procedure, easing the pain right away.
Blunt toothache may not seem as dangerous as sharp pain, but in fact it is quite the opposite: it probably needs urgent intervention by a dentist. It is because blunt pain almost always implies that nerves inside the tooth have been damaged. The reasons for it can be decay or other types of injury to the tooth. The cause of the pain is generally detected by panoramic X-rays, after which a simple root canal treatment can provide immediate relief. In rare cases, similarly to sharp pain, it can also be induced by the consumption of hot and icy drinks or food and tooth grinding, but also a misaligned wisdom tooth can act as the main culprit. If this is the case, the wisdom tooth might need to be extracted.
The third pain type, throbbing, intensive pain is most certainly the result of an infection, inflammation or an abscess in the mouth. Another tell-tale sign is a swollen and sore face, which requires instant pain relief and medical intervention. Usually anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed for the patient to reduce the inflammation and get rid of the infection. If needed, the abscess is incised, drained and cleaned with saline solution to ease the pain, and prevent deterioration. After a short healing period, the pain is usually gone, but the tooth might require root canal treatment to prevent further problems.
When experiencing toothache, it is always advised to visit our dentist as soon as we can. Toothache might hint at problems in other areas, such as the eyes, ears or sinus. If left untreated, the worst case scenario can even include tooth loss, as well as inflammation or infection spreading into other parts of the body.
How to Prevent Toothache Effectively?
Most toothaches are the result of tooth decay. Therefore, sufficient oral hygiene practices are the best way to prevent them. Brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste twice a day, flossing and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, and visiting our dentist every 6 months for a deep cleaning session is guaranteed to keep our teeth healthy and decay-free. Besides these practices, consuming low-sugar and non-acidic foods and drinks also helps the case.