What does the nature of the pain indicate?
The dentist understands a lot just from the description. Short-term pain from cold, sweet or sour foods, which goes away immediately after the irritant is removed, is typical of caries and hypersensitivity. If the pain lasts for minutes, occurs for no reason and intensifies at night when lying down, we are most likely talking about pulpitis. Pain when biting, a feeling that the tooth has become higher than the rest, and pain when tapping indicate inflammation at the apex of the root. Pain in the gums behind the last tooth with difficulty opening the mouth is characteristic of an erupting wisdom tooth.
- Short pain from cold and sweet foods - caries, sensitivity
- Prolonged pulsating, worse at night - pulpitis
- Pain when biting, the tooth has “grown” - periodontitis
- Pain with swelling and temperature - abscess
- Pain behind the last tooth, difficulty opening your mouth - pericoronitis
- Pain when chewing without a visible defect - tooth crack
Other causes of tooth pain
Not all dental pain comes from the tooth. Sinusitis often radiates to the upper chewing teeth, and the pain intensifies when the head is tilted forward. Trigeminal neuralgia causes short, shooting attacks triggered by touching or chewing. Temporomandibular joint problems cause pain when opening the mouth with clicking sounds. Separately, you need to remember that pain in the lower jaw can be a manifestation of myocardial infarction, especially if it appears during exercise and is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating and pressure in the chest.
- Sinusitis affecting the upper teeth
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- Gum inflammation and periodontitis
- Increased sensitivity due to gum recession
- Myocardial infarction with pain in the lower jaw
What can you do before your visit?
The task of home measures is to wait until the appointment without causing harm. Rinse your mouth with warm water or a weak saline solution, and carefully remove any remaining food with dental floss. Take a pain reliever from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if you have no contraindications, and follow the instructions. Sleep with your head elevated - this way the blood flows less and the pulsation is weaker. It is strictly forbidden to warm the cheek, apply compresses or heating pads: heat accelerates the spread of purulent inflammation. Do not place the tablet on a tooth or gum - this causes a chemical burn to the mucous membrane.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water or saline solution
- Remove food debris with dental floss
- Take pain medication as directed
- Cold outside for a short time in case of injury
- Sleep with your head elevated
- Do not warm your cheek or apply warm compresses
- Do not place tablets or alcohol on the gums
- Don't start antibiotics on your own
Diagnostics at the dentist
The doctor determines the nature and duration of the pain, examines the teeth and gums, checks the reaction to cold and tapping, evaluates the mobility of the teeth and the condition of old fillings. A dental image shows hidden caries under the filling, the condition of the canals and changes at the apex of the root - the source of inflammation in the bone is visible in the image even when the tooth looks intact from the outside. In case of multiple complaints or suspicion of the spread of the process, a survey of the jaws may be necessary.
- Survey about the character and provocateurs of pain
- Examination of teeth, gums and mucous membranes
- Dental X-ray
- Cold test and percussion
- Bite test
- Assessment of bite and condition of fillings
Treatment and prevention
The tactics depend on the finding: in case of caries, it is enough to remove the affected tissue and put a filling; in case of pulpitis and periodontitis, root canals are treated; in case of purulent inflammation, the lesion is opened and drained. Tooth extraction remains a last resort when it is impossible to save it. Antibiotics do not treat a diseased tooth and are prescribed only by a doctor when the infection has spread - they themselves only dull the symptoms temporarily. Preventing pain is easier than treating it: preventive examinations twice a year, cleaning between teeth and timely treatment of minor caries that do not yet hurt.
- Treatment of caries with filling
- Root canal treatment for pulpitis and periodontitis
- Opening and draining the abscess
- Tooth extraction if preservation is impossible
- Antibiotics only as prescribed by a doctor
- Preventive examination twice a year
- Dental flossing and professional hygiene