Toothache: symptoms, causes and treatment

There is nothing more annoying and painful than a toothache. It can appear at any time, without warning, and can stay to accompany you on your day to day until you decide to go to your dentist or dentist of confidence. They appear spontaneously, in a sudden way, being able to limit the acting capacity of those who suffer it. The truth is that we are facing one of the most common and intense pains. Although it is popularly known as toothache, its exact medical name is toothache.

Toothache appears as a result of a stimulation of the nerve root, either by chemical, mechanical or thermal agents. This stimulation causes a nerve irritation, so that our brain has to perceive it as a very intense painful stimulus, which is increasing.

What are the symptoms of toothache?

Although the most characteristic is, of course, the toothache itself, it is characterized by constant, intense and dull pain. It tends to present crises that increase the intensity of the pain, to then calm down a bit and reappear again in a sudden and insidious way.

In practically all the occasions certain habits or elements tend to aggravate the pain, as they can be: to chew intensely, to eat sweets and foods rich in sugars, or very cold or very hot foods or drinks.

When we actually have a toothache, the most usual thing is that your symptoms appear suddenly, presenting in turn what is medically known as a crisis of increased pain intensity. Or, what is the same, the pain becomes more and more intense as the hours go by, to disappear timidly and reappear again now with a greater "force".

What to do in case of severe toothache?

If you have ever felt toothache it is quite likely that by now you know that pain in itself can derive from a slight but constant discomfort, to a Intense toothache.

In these cases, when the toothache is relatively strong and it does not calm down with any drug, the most advisable thing is go to the dentist quickly, especially if your usual dentist can treat you urgently even if you do not have an appointment.

It is essential to try to visit the dentist's office as soon as possible, since it will help us to carry out an adequate medical treatment that will be essential precisely when it comes to relieving pain and discomfort.

The reason is that, if you do not go to the dentist quickly, it is quite possible that more serious problems occur at the level of the mouth, face or neck, since it could affect the different surrounding tissues.

In any case, while waiting for the appointment with the dentist (especially if you can not attend urgently, or if you can even do it but still have the consultation closed), it is possible relieve pain by analgesics such as acetaminophen, or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.

Causes of toothache

Although usually tends to think that toothache is due to the tooth is broken (that is, as a result of tooth decay), in reality this is not the only cause that can produce it. Moreover, sometimes it is possible that nothing has to do with dental pathology.

In relation to the causes of toothache, the most common are the following:

  • Tooth decay (that is, broken teeth).
  • Exposure of the dental roots.
  • Gingivitis (inflammation and infection of the gums).
  • Fissure or dental fracture.
  • Dental abscess.
  • Lesions in the oral mucosa.
  • Mandibular or otic pathology.
  • Sinusitis.

Depending on the cause that has caused the onset of toothache may arise other symptoms, which ultimately help to find their origin, such as: bleeding gums, thick and abundant mucus, fever or pain at the ear.

The dental cariesIt is one of the main causes of toothache. It basically consists of a multifactorial disease, which causes the localized and progressive destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth. This tends to destroy the enamel advancing towards the dentin, until it reaches the pulp if it is not treated.

It is this involvement of the pulp that causes the inflammatory reaction, and with it the pain to exist many nerve endings in this area.

How is the treatment of toothache

It is essential to go to the dentist's office from the moment we begin to feel discomfort or pain in any tooth, which will inquire into its own causes and perform the most appropriate treatment once the painful tooth is examined. Going to the consultation is very important, since otherwise the affected piece can cause problems in the surrounding tissues.

While we wait for the dentist's consultation, it is advisable to consult with the doctor which drugs can be useful, and especially which ones we can take.

In most cases they are prescribed analgesics like paracetamol or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories as is the case of ibuprofen or metamizole, which help relieve pain. Since aspirin increases the risk of bleeding, its use is not advised in case of toothache with bleeding gums.

On the other hand, you should not take antibiotics without proper medical prescription,since it is quite likely that they are not necessary and will not help at all in calming and relieving pain.

Some natural tips against a toothache

In addition to following the recommendations of our general practitioner and our dentist, it is essential to pay attention to a series of useful tips in case of toothache:

  • Avoid very hard foods that require a lot of chewing.
  • Avoid excessive chewing, choosing only foods and soft foods.
  • Avoid very cold or very hot foods.
  • Sweets and sugar make the toothache worse. Therefore, it is best to avoid it.
  • Apply cold in the area of ​​the cheek where you have the sore tooth. It exerts an anesthetic effect that helps to alleviate toothache in part. Of course, you should avoid applying the cold directly on the inside of the mouth, as it can be more painful.
  • Avoid putting pressure on the painful area. To do this you should lay your head on the side opposite to the tooth that hurts you, so as not to lie on the affected side.

Image | IStock This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor.

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