Causes Of Toothache Or Tooth Pain

Toothache may be defined as ache or pain around the teeth or jaw. The pain under common circumstances springs from dental or jaw problems. A careful oral examination by means of dental x-rays can pinpoint the root of the pain. It is worth mentioning that dental problems alone do not cause toothache. Toothache may also be an indication of some serious ailment of heart such as angina or a dearth of supply of oxygenated blood to heart muscles owing to narrowing down of arteries.

Toothache may also be an associated symptom for infections of inner and external ear, sinuses. The common signs of tooth ache include inflammation of gum, pain while chewing, sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli, bleeding gums or some discharge from the base of the teeth, swelling of jaw, redness along the tooth's gum line.

Common Causes of  Toothache

Below are some common causes of toothache or tooth pain that can bring a lot of pain and discomfort in your life.

1. Dental cavities or caries are the most common cause of toothache. Due to holes or cavities in the enamel or outermost white layer of teeth and dentin, the yellowish layer beneath enamel, the pulp becomes exposed to bacterial toxins or food items that are hot, cold, sweet or sour. This leads to toothache.

2. Gum disease is another quite common cause of toothache. It is characterized by the inflammation of the gingiva or soft tissues of the gum, and loss of bone at the base of the teeth. Gum disease is actually triggered by plaque, a combination of food particles, saliva and toxin secreting bacteria that accumulate along the gum line in course of time.

3. Toothache is also caused when the tooth root becomes sensitive to stimuli. Tooth root is the second-third part of tooth that lies buried in the bone surrounding the tooth. Bacterial toxins gradually consume the bone, causing the bones and gum line to recede. This exposes the tooth root to pain causing stimuli.

4. Tooth ache may be caused due to toot fracture or cracked tooth. Biting or chewing with the help of the broken tooth may cause sharp pain.

5. Temporo-mandibular joint disorders can also cause toothache. It is a jaw oriented disorder. It may lead to pain due to muscle spasm while chewing.

6. Teeth pressing together or impaction and growing out of molar teeth can cause toothache.

Hope this article will help you to understand the common causes of toothache or tooth pain.