Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionWhen to See a Dentist
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
When to See a Dentist
Tooth pain may occur because of tooth sensitivity, a mouth injury, decay, an infection, or other issues. You might feel a sharp pain or a persistent ache. It can cause problems when eating, disrupt your sleep, or bother you throughout the day.
This article explores the possible causes of tooth pain and the signs you need to get checked out. It also covers how tooth pain is diagnosed and treated, and how it can be prevented.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
What Causes Tooth Pain?
Common causes of a toothache that relate to your oral health include:
Less often, Ludwig’s angina, a serious but rare mouth infection, can cause tooth pain.
Can a Toothache Cause a Headache?
Gum Disease
More specifically, withgingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease, the gums become inflamed and hot, red, and swollen.
Both gingivitis and periodontitis can cause mild or intense pain. Typically, the worse the pain, the more advanced the infection is.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, also called dental caries, refers to thegradual destructionandcavityformation in the outer surface, orenamel, of the tooth.
Plaque, a sticky layer of bacteria that forms on the tooth enamel, feeds on the sugars and starches from food particles in your mouth. This produces an acid that eats away at the enamel, causing weak areas and holes. Over time, the enamel breaks down, and a cavity forms.
As the decay spreads inward toward the middle layer of the tooth, known as thedentin, it can cause pain and sensitivity.
Sensitive Teeth
Teeth sensitivity develops from exposed dentin. This can happen as a result of cavities,worn fillings,receding gums, or cracked teeth.
Teeth sensitivity is associated with quick, sharp pain when exposed to a triggering situation, such asteeth brushingor cold air exposure.
Bruxism
Over time, it may cause:
Cracked Tooth
Symptoms of acracked toothmay include a sharp pain when biting or chewing, as well as temperature and food sensitivity.
The five types of cracks in teeth include:
Abscess
The infected pulp chamber tries to drain itself out of the very tip of the tooth root, which is located beneath the pulp. This can cause intense pain and swelling.
Possible Causes of Throbbing Tooth Pain and What to Do
Impacted Tooth
Teeth can become impacted when something stops them from moving into their proper position in the mouth.
Wisdom teethcommonly get impacted because they are usually the last to break through, and you may not have room for them in your mouth.
Impaction can cause:
If impacted wisdom teeth become infected, it can cause sharp pain, fever, gum inflammation, and trouble swallowing.
15 Remedies for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Inflammation of the Tooth Pulp
Pulpitis is a condition that occurs when the tissue in the center of the tooth, also known as thepulp, becomes inflamed and irritated. This can lead to pain and an intense sensitivity to various things, such as temperature.
Conditions that may trigger pulpitis include:
Pulpitis may or may not be reversible. If it is, the pain or sensitivity stops within a couple seconds after the trigger is removed. If pulpitis is irreversible, the pain can linger for minutes after the trigger is taken away.Irreversible pulpitis can also present with spontaneous pain that may not require a trigger.
Ludwig’s Angina
Ludwig’s angina(also called submandibular space infection) is a rare bacterial infection under the tongue.It can be life-threatening and requires emergency treatment.
This condition may cause:
This infection is very serious and can spread fast. If it gets into your airway, it can make breathing difficult.It can also lead to bodywide infection (sepsis) and septic shock. Call 911 or get to an emergency room right away if you notice changes in breathing.
How Is Tooth Pain Diagnosed?
To determine the cause of your tooth pain, your dentist may take a medical history, give you a physical exam, and have you undergo an imaging test, such as an X-ray.
Medical History
Your dentist will ask you questions about your symptoms, including:
Physical Examination
Your dentist will likely check your mouth and face for swelling. During the oral (mouth) exam, they’ll look for inflammation and signs of an infection.
A physical exam includes:
For potentially worrisome symptoms, like a fever or neck pain, your dentist may perform a cranial nerve exam, which focuses on the head.
Understanding the Dental Exam
Imaging and Other Tests
Your dentist may want to take adental X-rayto check for abscesses, cavities, or any other problems.
A computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test may be more helpful for diagnosing rare conditions like Ludwig’s angina.
Other tests may include:
ENT Evaluation
Sometimes, tooth pain or sensitivity has nothing to do with your teeth. Other conditions that can cause a toothache include:
You may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) for an evaluation if your dentist suspects that your tooth pain is unrelated to your oral health.
How Is Tooth Pain Treated?
Treatments for tooth pain depend on the underlying cause.
They may include:
Most conditions that cause tooth pain can get worse or cause additional problems if they’re not taken care of early on. It’s always best to get checked and start treatment as soon as possible.
Medication
Your dentist may recommend or prescribe various medications:
Oral Rinses and Topical Fluoride
Oral rinses include:
For sensitivity and pain, your dentist may applyfluorideto your teeth and recommend afluoride toothpastedesigned for sensitive teeth.
Oral Devices
If you have sleep-related bruxism, your dentist may recommend wearing an oral device, like a mouth guard, at night. Over-the-counter options that mold to your teeth are the most affordable, but custom guards made from molds of your teeth are typically more comfortable and durable.
While a mouth guard will protect your teeth from damage, it won’t decrease the number of bruxism episodes. With this in mind, you may want to also work to address your underlying bruxism triggers, which can include stress, anxiety, and anger.
Dental Procedures
For certain conditions, you may need one of several dental procedures.
At-Home Relief
It can sometimes take a few days or more to get a dentist appointment. At-home remedies to try while you wait to be seen include:
How Do I Prevent Tooth Pain?
To prevent cavities, gum disease, and tooth sensitivity, practice good oral hygiene:
When to See a Dentist for Tooth Pain
Make an appointment with your dentist if:
A toothache may warrant a trip to the emergency room. Symptoms that should be seen right away include:
Summary
Tooth pain treatment varies with the cause. Whether you need medication, an oral device, or something else, the sooner you’re treated, the better.
29 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Koh SWC, Li CF, Loh JSP, Wong ML, Loh VWK.Managing tooth pain in general practice.Singapore Med J. 2019;60(5):224-228. doi:10.11622/smedj.2019044Dodson TB, Susarla SM.Impacted wisdom teeth.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:1302.Renton T, Wilson NH.Understanding and managing dental and orofacial pain in general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(646):236-237. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684901Kovalev V.A severe case of Ludwig’s angina with a complicated clinical course.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7695. doi:10.7759/cureus.7695Mount Sinai.Gums-swollen.Miranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.TODENTJ. 2018;12(1):520-528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520Heng C.Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease.Fed Pract.2016;33(10):31-33.Longridge NN, Youngson CC.Dental pain: Dentine sensitivity, hypersensitivity and cracked tooth syndrome.Prim Dent J. 2019;8(1):44-51. doi:10.1177/205016841900800101Yap AU, Chua AP.Sleep bruxism: current knowledge and contemporary management.J Conserv Dent.2016;19(5):383-9. doi:10.4103/0972-0707.190007Hasan S, Singh K, Salati N.Cracked tooth syndrome: Overview of literature.Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(3):164-168. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.165376Mamoun JS, Napoletano D.Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm.Eur J Dent. 2015;9(2):293-303. doi:10.4103/1305-7456.156840Shweta, Prakash SK.Dental abscess: a microbiological review.Dent Res J (Isfahan).2013;10(5):585-91.Nemours TeensHealth.What are impacted wisdom teeth?Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA.Biological markers for pulpal inflammation: a systematic review.PLoS ONE.2016;11(11):e0167289. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167289NIH MedlinePlus.Ludwig angina.Candamourty R, Venkatachalam S, Babu MR, Kumar GS.Ludwig’s angina - an emergency: a case report with literature review.J Nat Sci Biol Med.2012;3(2):206-8. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.101932Gunawan F, Ferriastuti W.Ludwig’s angina: An alarming radiology challenge.Radiol Case Rep. 2022;17(9):3103-3106. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.05.085Renton T.Tooth-related pain or not?.Headache. 2020;60(1):235-246. doi:10.1111/head.13689American Dental Association.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Chlorhexidine gluconate (oral rinse).Petersson LG.The role of fluoride in the preventive management of dentin hypersensitivity and root caries.Clin Oral Investig. 2013;17(Suppl 1):63-71. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0916-9Guaita M, Högl B.Current treatments of bruxism.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016;18(2):10. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0396-3Lee Y.Diagnosis and prevention strategies for dental caries.J Lifestyle Med.2013;3(2):107-9.Kaptan RF, Haznedaroglu F, Basturk FB, Kayahan MB.Treatment approaches and antibiotic use for emergency dental treatment in Turkey.Ther Clin Risk Manag.2013;9:443-9. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S52009American Association of Endodontists.Cracked teeth.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Toothaches.Jesudasan JS, Wahab PU, Sekhar MR.Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;53(9):826–30. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities.Mathur VP, Dhillon JK.Dental caries: A disease which needs attention.Indian J Pediatr. 2018;85(3):202-206. doi:10.1007/s12098-017-2381-6
29 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Koh SWC, Li CF, Loh JSP, Wong ML, Loh VWK.Managing tooth pain in general practice.Singapore Med J. 2019;60(5):224-228. doi:10.11622/smedj.2019044Dodson TB, Susarla SM.Impacted wisdom teeth.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:1302.Renton T, Wilson NH.Understanding and managing dental and orofacial pain in general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(646):236-237. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684901Kovalev V.A severe case of Ludwig’s angina with a complicated clinical course.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7695. doi:10.7759/cureus.7695Mount Sinai.Gums-swollen.Miranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.TODENTJ. 2018;12(1):520-528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520Heng C.Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease.Fed Pract.2016;33(10):31-33.Longridge NN, Youngson CC.Dental pain: Dentine sensitivity, hypersensitivity and cracked tooth syndrome.Prim Dent J. 2019;8(1):44-51. doi:10.1177/205016841900800101Yap AU, Chua AP.Sleep bruxism: current knowledge and contemporary management.J Conserv Dent.2016;19(5):383-9. doi:10.4103/0972-0707.190007Hasan S, Singh K, Salati N.Cracked tooth syndrome: Overview of literature.Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(3):164-168. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.165376Mamoun JS, Napoletano D.Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm.Eur J Dent. 2015;9(2):293-303. doi:10.4103/1305-7456.156840Shweta, Prakash SK.Dental abscess: a microbiological review.Dent Res J (Isfahan).2013;10(5):585-91.Nemours TeensHealth.What are impacted wisdom teeth?Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA.Biological markers for pulpal inflammation: a systematic review.PLoS ONE.2016;11(11):e0167289. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167289NIH MedlinePlus.Ludwig angina.Candamourty R, Venkatachalam S, Babu MR, Kumar GS.Ludwig’s angina - an emergency: a case report with literature review.J Nat Sci Biol Med.2012;3(2):206-8. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.101932Gunawan F, Ferriastuti W.Ludwig’s angina: An alarming radiology challenge.Radiol Case Rep. 2022;17(9):3103-3106. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.05.085Renton T.Tooth-related pain or not?.Headache. 2020;60(1):235-246. doi:10.1111/head.13689American Dental Association.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Chlorhexidine gluconate (oral rinse).Petersson LG.The role of fluoride in the preventive management of dentin hypersensitivity and root caries.Clin Oral Investig. 2013;17(Suppl 1):63-71. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0916-9Guaita M, Högl B.Current treatments of bruxism.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016;18(2):10. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0396-3Lee Y.Diagnosis and prevention strategies for dental caries.J Lifestyle Med.2013;3(2):107-9.Kaptan RF, Haznedaroglu F, Basturk FB, Kayahan MB.Treatment approaches and antibiotic use for emergency dental treatment in Turkey.Ther Clin Risk Manag.2013;9:443-9. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S52009American Association of Endodontists.Cracked teeth.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Toothaches.Jesudasan JS, Wahab PU, Sekhar MR.Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;53(9):826–30. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities.Mathur VP, Dhillon JK.Dental caries: A disease which needs attention.Indian J Pediatr. 2018;85(3):202-206. doi:10.1007/s12098-017-2381-6
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Koh SWC, Li CF, Loh JSP, Wong ML, Loh VWK.Managing tooth pain in general practice.Singapore Med J. 2019;60(5):224-228. doi:10.11622/smedj.2019044Dodson TB, Susarla SM.Impacted wisdom teeth.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:1302.Renton T, Wilson NH.Understanding and managing dental and orofacial pain in general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(646):236-237. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684901Kovalev V.A severe case of Ludwig’s angina with a complicated clinical course.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7695. doi:10.7759/cureus.7695Mount Sinai.Gums-swollen.Miranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.TODENTJ. 2018;12(1):520-528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520Heng C.Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease.Fed Pract.2016;33(10):31-33.Longridge NN, Youngson CC.Dental pain: Dentine sensitivity, hypersensitivity and cracked tooth syndrome.Prim Dent J. 2019;8(1):44-51. doi:10.1177/205016841900800101Yap AU, Chua AP.Sleep bruxism: current knowledge and contemporary management.J Conserv Dent.2016;19(5):383-9. doi:10.4103/0972-0707.190007Hasan S, Singh K, Salati N.Cracked tooth syndrome: Overview of literature.Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(3):164-168. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.165376Mamoun JS, Napoletano D.Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm.Eur J Dent. 2015;9(2):293-303. doi:10.4103/1305-7456.156840Shweta, Prakash SK.Dental abscess: a microbiological review.Dent Res J (Isfahan).2013;10(5):585-91.Nemours TeensHealth.What are impacted wisdom teeth?Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA.Biological markers for pulpal inflammation: a systematic review.PLoS ONE.2016;11(11):e0167289. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167289NIH MedlinePlus.Ludwig angina.Candamourty R, Venkatachalam S, Babu MR, Kumar GS.Ludwig’s angina - an emergency: a case report with literature review.J Nat Sci Biol Med.2012;3(2):206-8. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.101932Gunawan F, Ferriastuti W.Ludwig’s angina: An alarming radiology challenge.Radiol Case Rep. 2022;17(9):3103-3106. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.05.085Renton T.Tooth-related pain or not?.Headache. 2020;60(1):235-246. doi:10.1111/head.13689American Dental Association.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Chlorhexidine gluconate (oral rinse).Petersson LG.The role of fluoride in the preventive management of dentin hypersensitivity and root caries.Clin Oral Investig. 2013;17(Suppl 1):63-71. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0916-9Guaita M, Högl B.Current treatments of bruxism.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016;18(2):10. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0396-3Lee Y.Diagnosis and prevention strategies for dental caries.J Lifestyle Med.2013;3(2):107-9.Kaptan RF, Haznedaroglu F, Basturk FB, Kayahan MB.Treatment approaches and antibiotic use for emergency dental treatment in Turkey.Ther Clin Risk Manag.2013;9:443-9. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S52009American Association of Endodontists.Cracked teeth.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Toothaches.Jesudasan JS, Wahab PU, Sekhar MR.Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;53(9):826–30. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities.Mathur VP, Dhillon JK.Dental caries: A disease which needs attention.Indian J Pediatr. 2018;85(3):202-206. doi:10.1007/s12098-017-2381-6
Koh SWC, Li CF, Loh JSP, Wong ML, Loh VWK.Managing tooth pain in general practice.Singapore Med J. 2019;60(5):224-228. doi:10.11622/smedj.2019044
Dodson TB, Susarla SM.Impacted wisdom teeth.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:1302.
Renton T, Wilson NH.Understanding and managing dental and orofacial pain in general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(646):236-237. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X684901
Kovalev V.A severe case of Ludwig’s angina with a complicated clinical course.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7695. doi:10.7759/cureus.7695
Mount Sinai.Gums-swollen.
Miranda-Rius J, Brunet-Llobet L, Lahor-Soler E.The periodontium as a potential cause of orofacial pain: a comprehensive review.TODENTJ. 2018;12(1):520-528. doi:10.2174/1874210601812010520
Heng C.Tooth decay is the most prevalent disease.Fed Pract.2016;33(10):31-33.
Longridge NN, Youngson CC.Dental pain: Dentine sensitivity, hypersensitivity and cracked tooth syndrome.Prim Dent J. 2019;8(1):44-51. doi:10.1177/205016841900800101
Yap AU, Chua AP.Sleep bruxism: current knowledge and contemporary management.J Conserv Dent.2016;19(5):383-9. doi:10.4103/0972-0707.190007
Hasan S, Singh K, Salati N.Cracked tooth syndrome: Overview of literature.Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2015;5(3):164-168. doi:10.4103/2229-516X.165376
Mamoun JS, Napoletano D.Cracked tooth diagnosis and treatment: An alternative paradigm.Eur J Dent. 2015;9(2):293-303. doi:10.4103/1305-7456.156840
Shweta, Prakash SK.Dental abscess: a microbiological review.Dent Res J (Isfahan).2013;10(5):585-91.
Nemours TeensHealth.What are impacted wisdom teeth?
Rechenberg DK, Galicia JC, Peters OA.Biological markers for pulpal inflammation: a systematic review.PLoS ONE.2016;11(11):e0167289. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167289
NIH MedlinePlus.Ludwig angina.
Candamourty R, Venkatachalam S, Babu MR, Kumar GS.Ludwig’s angina - an emergency: a case report with literature review.J Nat Sci Biol Med.2012;3(2):206-8. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.101932
Gunawan F, Ferriastuti W.Ludwig’s angina: An alarming radiology challenge.Radiol Case Rep. 2022;17(9):3103-3106. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.05.085
Renton T.Tooth-related pain or not?.Headache. 2020;60(1):235-246. doi:10.1111/head.13689
American Dental Association.Oral analgesics for acute dental pain.
University of Michigan Health: Michigan Medicine.Chlorhexidine gluconate (oral rinse).
Petersson LG.The role of fluoride in the preventive management of dentin hypersensitivity and root caries.Clin Oral Investig. 2013;17(Suppl 1):63-71. doi:10.1007/s00784-012-0916-9
Guaita M, Högl B.Current treatments of bruxism.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016;18(2):10. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0396-3
Lee Y.Diagnosis and prevention strategies for dental caries.J Lifestyle Med.2013;3(2):107-9.
Kaptan RF, Haznedaroglu F, Basturk FB, Kayahan MB.Treatment approaches and antibiotic use for emergency dental treatment in Turkey.Ther Clin Risk Manag.2013;9:443-9. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S52009
American Association of Endodontists.Cracked teeth.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Toothaches.
Jesudasan JS, Wahab PU, Sekhar MR.Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2015;53(9):826–30. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2015.06.022
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities.
Mathur VP, Dhillon JK.Dental caries: A disease which needs attention.Indian J Pediatr. 2018;85(3):202-206. doi:10.1007/s12098-017-2381-6
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