Toothache Care

What Is a Toothache and What Causes It?

Toothache refers to pain in and around your teeth and jaws. It can come and go or remain constant, and be mild or severe, depending on the cause. It can also worsen at night, particularly when you’re lying down. While minor toothaches that result from a temporary gum irritation can be treated at home, more serious ones caused by infection or a chipped tooth will require a dentist’s attention.

While toothaches are common and rarely indicate anything serious, it’s important to see a dentist before it leads to something significant. Toothaches are usually caused by:

• Tooth decay
• An abscessed tooth (a bacterial infection inside the center of the tooth)
• A tooth fracture (broken tooth)
• A damaged filling
• Repetitive motions, such as chewing gum or grinding/clenching teeth, which can wear down your teeth
• Infected gums
• Eruption (teeth coming out of the gums) or removal of a tooth (for example, wisdom teeth)

Sometimes a toothache is an indication of another health problem, such as:

• A heart attack, cluster headache, or sinus infection, which can cause referred pain in the teeth or jaw (Referred pain occurs at a site separate from its origin)
• Viral infections, such as shingles
• Diseases such as diabetes
• Nerve-related disease, such as trigeminal neuralgia
• Alcohol or drug use (especially methamphetamines)
• Vitamin deficiencies, such as too little B12