How teeth work
Inside our teeth there is a space called the "pulp cavity," where the "dental pulp" consisting of the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth is distributed. The pulp is covered by dentin, which is in turn covered by enamel. What we call "toothache" occurs when the pulp is stimulated.
Causes of toothache
When your teeth hurt, the first thing to suspect is tooth decay. Other possible causes include periodontal disease and tooth sensitivity.
Tooth decay (cavities)
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When you develop cavities, you reach a stage called C1, where the enamel is dissolved by the acid produced by bacteria in your mouth, but because the enamel does not contain the nerves of the tooth, you do not feel any pain. However, because part of the dental pulp has penetrated into the dentin, when the disease progresses to "C2," cold and sweet foods start to sting. At "C3," the nerve of the tooth itself becomes contaminated, causing severe pain. At "C4," the nerve of the tooth dies, and the toothache disappears.
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gums and bones that support the teeth. When it becomes severe, it can cause pain that is easily confused with toothache.
hypersensitivity
If the dentin, which is normally covered by enamel, becomes exposed for some reason, the nerves may be stimulated by cold liquids or wind. This is called dentin hypersensitivity, and you may feel a sensation similar to pain. Causes of exposed dentin include receding gums due to aging and tooth fractures (breaking of teeth). It can also be caused by excessive brushing.
Other
Other examples include pain caused by wisdom teeth that have not erupted normally, pain in the jaw joint when chewing due to temporomandibular joint disorder, trigeminal neuralgia felt while brushing your teeth, and toothache of unknown cause (atypical toothache).
Treatment for toothache
Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause.
Caries
Cavity treatment depends on how advanced the tooth decay is.
Click here for more information on dental caries treatmentPeriodontal disease
Periodontal disease treatment involves removing plaque and tartar, adjusting your bite depending on the stage of the disease, and also daily plaque control.
Click here for more information on periodontal disease treatmenthypersensitivity
Mild cases of tooth sensitivity may heal naturally. In addition, applying fluoride to the teeth may strengthen the tooth structure and make the symptoms less likely to occur. For moderate cases of tooth sensitivity, treatments are used to cover the exposed dentin with medication or dental materials, and in severe cases, the tooth may have to have its nerve removed.
