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Why does a tooth hurt?

Acute and sudden or aching and persistent, toothache is difficult to ignore. Infection, caries, or injury are common causes of discomfort. What should I do if my tooth hurts? Let's tell you how to act in the moment and delve into the causes of toothache.

Published at

March 19, 2024

How to relieve toothache? Emergency assistance

  • Take pain medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. 

  • Rinse your mouth with salt. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with this solution several times a day.

  • Apply a cold compress to the sore spot. 

  • Rinse your mouth with an anti-inflammatory gel. 

But remember that these methods can help to cope with pain temporarily. Come to an appointment at Olympus Clinics so that our dentists can identify the cause of the discomfort and prescribe treatment. 

Causes of toothache

Toothache occurs due to inflammation of the central part of the tooth, the pulp. Inflammation of the pulp can be caused by caries, trauma, and infection -- the most common causes of pain. But there are other sources of pain syndrome. 

Do you have sensitive teeth

If you experience painful sensations during brushing your teeth, as well as when eating hot or cold food, you may have hypersensitivity of your teeth. 

Are you grinding your teeth?

No caries or gum disease? You may have bruxism. Bruxism is the gnashing of teeth. Many people grind their teeth at night without even realizing it. One of the easiest ways to stop toothache that occurs due to bruxism is to wear a mouth guard while sleeping.

Could it be your wisdom tooth?

Teething is a painful process. Regardless of whether you are a child or an adult. Acute toothache can occur when a wisdom tooth is infected due to food getting stuck under the gum.

Could the problem be outside the mouth?

Toothache may be associated with a malfunction of another organ of the body. This is called reflected pain. The reasons may be:

  • Certain types of headaches, such as cluster headache and migraine.

  • Clogged or infected sinuses

  • Problems in the functioning of the joints or muscles that connect the jaw to the skull.

Symptoms of toothache

Severe pain may occur from pressure or from hot or cold temperatures. It can spread to the cheek, ear, or jaw. Other signals that indicate that it's time to see a doctor:

  • Pain when chewing in the teeth or jaw;

  • Headaches;

  • Bleeding or discharge around the tooth or gums;

  • Swelling around the dental unit;

  • Constant bad breath;

  • Elevated temperature;

  • Unpleasant taste in the mouth:

  • Swollen glands.

If you tap on an infected tooth, the pain may worsen. This sign indicates that there are problems, even if there are no external changes. 

Treatment of toothache in Olympus Clinics

At the reception at Olympus Clinics, the dentist will conduct an examination and ask about your symptoms. He can also take an X-ray of the teeth to assess their condition. After diagnosis, the doctor will make an individual treatment plan. The most common cause of pain syndrome is caries. Caries treatment in Olympus Clinics is carried out carefully and painlessly. The main goal of our specialists is to save the tooth. During the procedure, the doctor removes the affected tissues, and then seals the cleaned area with a durable material. The color of the material is selected individually. The patient does not feel pain during treatment, as our doctors use local anesthesia. To create a comfortable atmosphere, the doctor can turn on a podcast or your playlist. It is important for us that you feel confident and calm at all stages of treatment.

Schedule a visit to the clinic

You can schedule a visit to any of the clinics. Choose the time when it will be convenient for you to receive a return call to confirm the appointment.

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