Whang! It lashes through you and freezes you still. And then a few seconds later, you can hardly sit – you have to pace up and down, trying anything to see if you can bring the pain down. And sometimes it’s a dull throb you’re hoping will go away that turns into a painful ache that won’t leave you alone for a second.
If you suffer toothaches, you know how gruelling and tortuous they can be. I’ve seen people who couldn’t sleep because of a toothache. They seem to be endemic in some people, and yet others have lived long lives without having to suffer them.
For the kind of agony they cause, it’s only fair to know what brings them on so that you can keep clear if you suffer them, and steer clear if you don’t.
Some common causes of toothaches are:
- First and most common are cavities. A toothache occurs in the tooth and jaw area, and a cavity is a perfect place for a toothache to begin its attack. A cavity is a hole in the tooth enamel and dentine – the outer layers of the tooth that protect the living part of the tooth that’s full of nerves. A hole leaves the nerves in direct exposure, and literally anything can cause those nerves to inflame and bring about great pain. It you don’t brush your teeth well, bacteria start to form. The cavity in your tooth is the perfect little place for them to hide and breed. Once they get to your nerves, a toothache will develop. Also, if you have a cavity and something gets in there, the pain can be devastating. You might unsuspectingly bite into something and it goes straight there causing untold pain. If it’s something solid that can be pulled out with a pair of tweezers, you may get some toothache relief. But if it’s something sugary and liquid, you may have to see a dentist to control your pain.
- Sensitive roots are a great cause of toothaches. Even for people who don’t suffer cavities, they may have sensitive teeth. In some people, they’re caused by a receding jaw line due to gum disease that exposes the inner part of the tooth. In others, it just happens. You may not have a receding jaw line, but your teeth are sensitive anyway. When you have had sensitive teeth for a long time, your roots eventually get sensitive too. Something too hot or too cold will start a throb in your jaw and tooth that can go on for hours. The best way to deal with this is use toothpastes for sensitive teeth. If it’s serious, your dentist should be able to prescribe something.
- A cracked tooth is an often culprit. When we think about toothaches, molars come to mind. With a cracked tooth however, any tooth, including your front teeth and incisors, can cause a great deal of pain. Cracking can come about through any variety of causes: falling, biting on pens or pencils, hard candy. Every time you bite anything, hard or soft, the cracked tooth, because the nerves are exposed, will hurt. The solution may be to have the tooth capped. If this doesn’t work, you may have to have an extraction.
- Some toothaches are a symptom of underlying problems. If you have a nerve disorder for instance, it may start to manifest itself around your jaws and teeth whether you have cavities or cracks or not. A heart problem can manifest through pain in the teeth or jaw every time you bite, or even just a dull ache. If you should feel this, and there is no cavity, crack or previous sensitivity to explain it, do not waste any time getting to your doctor – it will probably save your life.
Knowing what causes something is halfway to getting a solution for it. Now you know some of the common causes of toothache; try to avoid the triggers and make sure to see your dentist often so that you can save yourself the grief that a toothache brings.
