A toothache is a common dental condition that the majority of people will experience at some point in time in their lives. This condition is caused by damage done to some part of the tooth system. It commonly occurs when the nerves in the tooth root or surrounding gums are irritated, damaged, or compromised in some way. 

Dental pain can come from tooth decay, injury to the teeth, gum disease, infections in the teeth and gums, or the loss of a tooth. Pain may also occur after extraction, surgery, root canals, fillings, and even deep dental cleanings. Pain in other areas can radiate and spread to the jaw, making the teeth throb or hurt.  The common sources for this kind of dental pain include jaw joint pain, ear pain, sinus infections or congestion, overworked jaw muscles, and very rarely even heart problems. 

Toothache Symptoms

Toothaches are very common and they can affect people of all ages- young and old alike. There may be severe pain flare-ups that seem to be triggered by things such as pressure from eating or talking, sensitivity to hot and cold foods, or even sour and sweet foods. The pain may linger for seconds or minutes after the triggering stimuli has been removed and it can also come and go without any apparent trigger once it has been ‘set off’. 

As the area of injury lingers and worsens, the pain becomes more severe. It may radiate to the cheek, the ear, or the jaw, so be on the lookout for the following signs that indicate you may be facing a bigger problem:

• Pain when chewing that makes eating difficult

• Hot or cold sensitivity and lingering pain
• Bleeding, pus, or other discharge from tooth or gums
• Swelling around the tooth or swelling in the gums and jaw
• Injury or trauma that has been sustained recently to the area

These signs and symptoms could indicate a more serious condition such as periodontal disease, infection, abscess, and tooth decay.

When to Seek Medical Care for a Toothache

You should call your dentist in Melbourne about a toothache when:

• Pain that does not respond to home treatments and that is not relieved by over-the-counter drugs or that lingers for long periods after triggering stimuli is gone.
• You have symptoms of severe pain after a tooth is pulled that doesn’t clear up when following post-surgery care instructions that you have been given.
• Pain that comes with swelling in the gums, jaw, face, or neck as this can be dangerous as it can affect your ability to eat, swallow, or breathe.
• Broken or knocked-out teeth from an injury or any kind of trauma that has been sustained to the mouth that causes pain, swelling, or bleeding in the mouth.
• Consistent pain in your jaw joint that occurs many times in conjunction with clicking, catching, or locking when you attempt to move it.
• Issues involving the back teeth, known as the wisdom teeth, as these can commonly become infected, impacted, and cause problems and a great deal of pain.
• You have a tooth or multiple teeth that are suddenly getting loose or that are changing color, which can indicate damage to the tooth pulp or tooth root.
• Teeth that are cracked, chipped, broken, or damaged in any way as damaged teeth can easily become infected and lead to major problems down the road.
• Any sore in the mouth that does not heal after 1-2 weeks, that worsens, or that causes you any kind of concern needs to be checked out to rule out infections or oral cancers.

Contact Us Today

To see what your local orthodontist in Melbourne, can do for you and your dental and orthodontic needs, contact us today at Melbourne Orthodontics. We have proudly been serving the local area for many years and we invite you to come see for yourself the difference we can make. Whether you are searching for orthodontic correction with conventional braces or Invisalign, or you have other dental questions, contact us today!