Toothache, very often caused by cavities, can have many origins: affections of the gum, jaw, but also sinuses or even ears. Consulting a dentist will help find the cause of the pain and treat it.

Toothache refers to pain felt in and around the mouth, caused by elements of the oral cavity itself or by more distant factors (such as the sinuses or the ears).

The toothache can be transient and light or turn into a real toothache in which the pain is almost unbearable.

If the pain is too intense, lasts (more than two days) or is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, pain in the ears or when opening the mouth, then he is strongly advised to consult a dentist.

Dental decay is the most common cause of toothache. It is an infectious disease that can affect tooth enamel, dentin and / or pulp. According to the World Health Organization, almost 100% of adults have cavities!

The tooth first becomes sensitive to hot and cold before the pain really sets in. The cause is poor oral hygiene, but there are also hereditary factors.

Cavities are not the only conditions that cause toothache. These include:

• bacterial infection;
• the presence of an abscess;
• oral trauma, for example a fall resulting in a crack or a fracture of the tooth or a blow to the jaw;
• gum disease, such as gingivitis (which refers to inflammation of the gum);
• bruxism, that is to say the grinding of teeth (or the clenching of teeth) which often occurs during the night;
• wisdom tooth growth or tooth eruption in babies and children;
• a sinusitis may cause pain in the molars;
• an affection of the ears, neck;
• or a heart attack (which causes pain in the teeth and jaws).

Note that too deep decay or trauma to the tooth can cause damage to the nerve of the tooth. In these cases, the dentist may have recourse to a pulpectomy, that is to say a devitalization of the tooth. The goal is to make the tooth insensitive.

If not taken care of in time, the toothache can greatly increase. The danger is therefore to suffer more and for longer!

Associated with this increasing pain, the conditions which are at the origin of it can also worsen: an untreated decay can be complicated in an abscess, a damaged gum can lead to loosening or even loss of teeth, etc.

An oral exam, done by a dentist, is the best thing to do to know the origin of the disease. The professional will be able to make a diagnosis and offer an appropriate treatment. For example, he will seek to know when the pain appeared, its location, its level, or even the symptoms that may be associated with it.

Note that the use of analgesics can help relieve pain before the medical appointment.

To try to prevent the occurrence of toothache, it is crucial to have good dental hygiene:

• brushing and brushing teeth after each meal, for 3 minutes;
• regular mouthwashes
• change your toothbrush regularly;
• favor toothpastes containing fluoride;
• go to the dentist regularly;
• or eat balanced and limit foods that are too sweet.