Toothache is any pain, soreness or ache felt in or around a tooth. It’s not just one type of pain. That means it’s sometimes hard to even describe what you’re experiencing to your dentist. The pain can be sharp, dull, throbbing or constant. In some cases, the pain is only felt when you put pressure on the tooth. Your tooth might also be particularly sensitive to hot or cold temperatures. Pain with chewing is also fairly common. Other symptoms could include a swollen gum around the tooth or deeper in your jaw, headaches and high fevers. You might also have bleeding from your tooth or bleeding gums. In the case of infection you might have foul-tasting fluid leaking from around the tooth.

Causes of a toothache may be related to your teeth, gums or jaw. Of all toothaches that our dentists see each day, the most common causes are:

• Dental cavities as a result of tooth decay
• A fractured or broken tooth
• An abscessing tooth
• An impacted wisdom tooth

Sometimes the pain is caused by an old filling that is starting the leak or has been damaged. The gums can also be a common cause of generalised pain. Accidents and trauma cause a lot of pain and these should always be checked, even if they start to settle down.

• Generally your dentist will ask you about your medical history and then thoroughly examine your mouth, teeth, gums, jaw, tongue, and other surrounding structures. You would normally also need an x-ray, depending on what your dentist suspects might be the cause of your toothache.
• Your dentist will ask you some questions about the pain, such as:
• When did your toothache start?
• How severe is the pain?
• Where do you feel the pain?
• What makes it worse?
• What makes it better?

Think about your answers to these questions before your appointment. Being prepared can speed up the diagnosis.

Early diagnosis and treatment is always the best, so please call our friendly reception team on 09 818 8855 if you would like to book to get your tooth ache sorted.