Brier Creek 984-477-0177 | North Raleigh 984-206-4242 | Knightdale 984-733-0330 Locations Appointments

What Is Toothache And its Causes?

Posted on 10/10/2022 by Dr. Dani Stansell

Toothache is a sharp pain around the tooth. The pain can range from mild to severe and may become constant. At some point, you may experience swelling around your tooth or gum. A minor toothache can occur due to temporary gum irritation. While you can treat a minor toothache at home, some severe toothaches require medical attention. Toothache occurs due to an inflammation of the pulp. The pulp contains soft materials filled with blood vessels, tissues, and nerves. When the nerves get irritated or become infected, you may experience severe tooth pain.

Main Causes of Toothache

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay or dental cavity is the common cause of toothache. It usually occurs when bacteria form in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene. At some point, the bacteria form into a plaque causing the tooth to decay. You may experience a small hole in your tooth that grows deeper as time moves.

Abscess

Abscess is a tooth infection that causes throbbing pain. It results from untreated cavities, injury, or dental treatment. The condition starts when the pulp dies. The absence of pulp creates room for bacteria growth. Thus, if you have a damaged tooth, it is wise to visit a dentist since the cracked area can lead to an absence if left untreated.

Tooth Fracture

Cracked or chipped teeth can result from direct trauma from a tooth or an accident. Damaged teeth can cause throbbing pain that comes and goes. You're likely to experience pain because some bacteria, water, or food particles might have entered through the cracked tooth.

Infected Gum

Gum infections occur due to poor oral hygiene or conditions such as diabetes. When the gum disease is left untreated, the infection can spread to your teeth.

People experience toothache differently. Toothache can present itself as irritated gum, aches in the mouth, headache, fever, or a bad mouth taste that occurs due to infection. While over-the-counter medication can help to relieve the pain, it is advisable to visit the dentist to address the root cause of the problem.

Locations & Hours

Brier Creek

9400 Brier Creek Parkway, Ste 204
Raleigh, NC 27617-4879

Phone: 984-477-0177
Fax: 919-249-1375

Office Hours
Mon: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Tues: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wed: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thur: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Fri: 8:00am - 2:00pm

North Raleigh

1911 Falls Valley Drive, Ste 107
Raleigh, NC 27615

Phone: 984-206-4242
Fax: 919-249-2145

Office Hours
Mon: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Tues: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wed: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thur: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Fri: 8:00am - 2:00pm

Knightdale

1101 Great Falls Ct, Ste 102
Knightdale, NC 27545

Phone: 984-733-0330
Fax: 919-415-1849

Office Hours
Mon: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Tues: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wed: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thur: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Fri: 8:00am - 2:00pm

Stansell Dentistry Associates, 9400 Brier Creek Parkway, Ste 204, Raleigh, NC 27617-4879; 984-477-0177; stanselldentistry.com; 10/2/2024; Related Terms: dentist Raleigh NC;