What does a toothache mean?
A healthy mouth is of great importance in terms of a happy and whole body. Therefore, paying attention to oral health is a habit that we must spread throughout our lives. In some cases; (when we wake up in the morning, or in the first brushing at the beginning of the day, in the consumption of hot and cold food) we have a feeling with different severity that can go from tingling to an ache, and we’re rightly worried. There are various conditions that can cause an ache on the surface, root or gum of the teeth. Let’s take a look at them together.
Teeth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is the feeling of discomfort and an ache that teeth give to the person against physical impacts, cold-hot and sweet food and beverages (such as chewing, brushing, contact with other teeth or tongue). At various times on the teeth, popularly mentioned as throbbing, tingling or aches occur and can have many reasons. Cracks and cavities on teeth, thin enamel layer due to genetic factors and teeth squeaking are only several of the causes of tooth sensitivity. The main cause of sensitivity can only be learned by physical examination and various examinations.
Dental Inflammation
There is a soft tissue called “pulp”, with nerve flood extensions and blood vessels at the center of the tooth. When cavities occurring in the teeth and various damages reach the pulp, the ache is felt. Inflammation in the inner tissue of the tooth called the ‘pulp’ and related infection can seriously disturb the patient. In such a case, you should consult a specialist dentist and depending on the damage in the tooth, filling, canal and similar treatment methods should be applied.
Abscess
Dental abscess that occurs in the root of the tooth when there is a bacterial infection in the nerve tissue, can be easily diagnosed by gently hitting the tooth (a tooth with abscess is usually quite sensitive to touch or pressure), X-rays (or other imaging tests) and laboratory tests. The abscess, typically an advanced form of a bacterial infection accumulated in the soft tissue of the tooth, can cause fever and swelling of the lymphs in the surrounding tissue.
Tooth Decay
The occurrence of decays is usually caused by disrupting oral and dental care or not being able to do it right. However, there are other factors that trigger the occurrence of decays. These triggering factors include:
Sugary Food
Our dietary habits are very important in terms of the course of our oral and dental health. The digestive process begins in the oral cavity, so the primary effect of all nutrients is primarily reflected on the mouth and teeth. Therefore, if floury and sugary food make up for a big part in our daily diet, the occurrence of decays in long-term disrupted intra-oral care is inevitable. Because the acids formed by nutrient edict and the activities of bacteria found naturally in our intra-oral flora damage dental minerals, so the teeth become unprotected. Thus, they easily damage the teeth and tooth enamel, causing the occurrence of decays.
Oral and Dental Care
Dental care is very important to protect our oral and body health. Habits such as brushing our teeth regularly and cleaning unreachable areas during flossing at the end of the day are very important for dental care. These habits, which we care to fulfill regularly, will also prevent the occurrence of decays.
Brushing our teeth regularly may not prevent bacterial formation unless the correct paste, the right brush and a detailed brushing technique are used. Brushes with medium hard bristles should be preferred to brush teeth except in exceptional cases. Brush selection is important in order not to damage the surface of gum and teeth, but to prevent any irritation that may occur during brushing. It is important to brush our teeth in circular motions at least twice a day and again for at least three minutes without too much pressure. If problems progress in cases where teeth and gum are damaged, the situation may end with teeth loss.
Genetic Factors
Genetic factors are criteria that significantly affect the person on many issues, not just oral and dental health. Of course, this effect also applies to oral and dental health. Disorders that can disrupt oral and dental health can be easily affected by genetic causes. While Erosion and decay-like situations on teeth genetically with thick and hard structure of tooth enamel take place slower, on teeth with thin tooth enamel, decaying takes place faster. In other words, dental structure is also under the influence of genetic factors, which affect the occurrence of decays.
Bruxism- Teeth Squeaking
Bruxism (teeth squeaking) is another disease that affects our oral and dental health negatively. Due to this disease, various disorders occur in the mouth and surrounding areas. Bruxism, which usually occurs during sleep by squeezing teeth above the physical limit or squeaking with jaw movements, gets triggered by stress at most. In cases where bruxism progresses too far, too much noise can be heard from the teeth, this situation is very dangerous in terms of the physical integrity of the teeth. Tooth enamel, which is constantly exposed to physical force or constant rubbing during tightening and squeaking, becomes eroded over time and cannot protect the tooth. In bruxism, which, like a sandpaper, destroys the rough surfaces that teeth should have, the length of the teeth is shortened, and the roots are weakened due to the pressure applied. Over time, teeth may start to shake, bleeding may appear in the teeth due to pressure, and teeth may begin to lose their physiological function.
For all these reasons, bruxism disease is among the factors that lead to decay, in order to prevent this disease, it is very important to be free of daily stress. In order to protect teeth from bruxism, it may be recommended to insert silicone plaques specially prepared for the patient’s oral size during sleep.
Teeth Fractures
Even if the cracks in the enamel layer of the tooth, i.e. its visible surface, do not cause constant pain, hot-cold sensitivity or a sharp pain that occurs suddenly during chewing can be indicating of a fracture in the teeth. Teeth fractures usually occur in the teeth in the back, where chewing is intense. Still, the patient can’t tell exactly which tooth the pain is caused by, because severe and reflected pain also reduces the sensation. Especially intense pain in the upper teeth can be perceived as migraines.
With the patient who came with intense pain, no signs of decays, fillings or seemingly inappropriate indications may not be seen, because the fracture formations that cause pain may not be noticeable at first glance with the naked eye. The decision of which teeth causing the feeling of pain is determined by applying pressure to all parts of the mouth and teeth.
In addition to decay in summary, for various reasons (physical impact, head trauma, breaking of crustaceans in the mouth, etc.) pain can be seen in fractured, even broken teeth. Situations such as physical damage caused by nail-eating habits, breaking hard shell food with teeth, squeezing and squeaking teeth (bruxism), Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause fractures or cracks in the teeth, therefore, severe pain.
The decision of most of us to act on problems with our teeth occurs as soon as we start to feel unbearable pain or see a physical symptom. Even if almost everyone knows that it is important to go to dentist check-ups every 6 months on a regular period, there are difficulties with actually practicing this. When these regular checks are disrupted small problems in the teeth grow, in fact, damages that can be receded by small treatments can lead the patient to tooth loss. Unfortunately these problems go unnoticed and under the radar before progressing and reaching a phase with irresistible pain or ache.
To be able to get through these processes in a healthy way, to be able to notice decays or other problems early and not to delay the treatment with disrupting dentist checks is of great importance.