I have a toothache…. What could have happened

One of the most frequent questions we encounter with…

One of the most difficult questions to reply without examining the tooth and its x-ray image.  But, I’d still provide you with some quite clear information:

My tooth aches when I press onto it:

Reason: If there are no dental filling in or a crown/veneer on your tooth, most probably an abscess is developed at the root end due to tooth decay.  If a dental filling or a crown is available, the height might be excessive.

Solution: First of all, root canal therapy is required. Your problem would most probably be resolved by draining the abscess located at the bottom of the root, followed by a root canal therapy. If you feel pain when you press down a restored or crowned teeth, it is most likely that the filling material or the crown can be slightly higher than it should.  The disturbance would disappear after your dentist removed this excessive height.

My tooth tingles in/with cold.

Reason: Your tooth is decayed or the root surface is exposed due to gingival recession.

Solution: First of all, if there’s any decay, the tooth should be restored. If the root surface is exposed due to gingival recession, coverage of root surface should be ensured via application of fluorine or a dental desensitizing solution. In some cases where such surface coating materials do not work, an aesthetic restoration should be processed on the root surface.

My tooth aches with hot.

Reason: Your tooth is decayed at an advanced level. Sensitivity to cold in decayed teeth usually points to a superficial decay for us, whereas a toothache triggered by contact with hot would indicate a more advanced level of decay.

Solution: The tooth requires either restoration after a deep cleaning or root canal therapy.

My gums hurt.

Reason: A rough object/particle may have escaped into your gums (e.g. fish bone, corn cap, etc.). Or an aphtha may have occurred.

Solution: The foreign particle penetrating into gingiva or between tooth and gingiva should be removed.  If any aphtha exists, and anti-viral cream would help reduce the sensitivity.

I feel pain when I eat sour or sweet things.

Reason: Tooth decay having started to affect the dental nerves. Left untreated, it might very rapidly transform into highly severe toothache.

Solution: The tooth should be thoroughly cleaned and then restored by addition of a pain reliever and healing medication underneath the dental filling. The tooth should be examined very carefully after three weeks and the degree/quantity of complaints should be measured.

I have toothache similar to pulsation/I have toothache at nights:

Reason: Tooth decay advanced down to the dental nerves inside the tooth and the bacteria causing the decay have affected these dental nerves quite significantly and decaying here has initiated.

Solution: Root Canal Therapy.

If you suffer toothaches not included in the above list, your dentist should review your x-ray images and, at the same time, should conduct an oral examination. You may use the form located below to write down your questions.