Dental Pain: Treatment, Symptoms, Causes, Procedure, Cost, Diet and Side Effects

Dental pain or toothache is a fairly common condition and almost everyone is affected by it at some point in their lives. Despite it being a common occurrence, the treatment methods for dental pain cam vary from simple homemade remedies to drugs and medications as well as simple dental procedures such as a filling, root canal treatment or tooth extraction.

Each of these treatment methods focuses on pain management, although the dental procedures aim to remove the cause of the pain so that the patient does not experience any pain in the tooth concerend. The best part about dental pain is that after treatment, patients can avoid a recurrence of the same by taking certain preventive measures.

That said, the right treatment option for the patient's toothache will depend on the cause of his/her toothpain, which will be ascertained by the dentist through the analysis of the symptoms as well as by conducting diagnostic tests such as X-rays. Patients should know that dental pain is easily treatable.

There may be various types of tooth pain depending upon the cause of the pain. It may range from being dull and continuous to sharp and intermittent. A thorough examination and radiographic analysis under the supervision of a dentist are necessary for deciding the treatment plan against the pain.

Types of dental pain include:

• Dull and persistent: This is the most commonly occurring type of tooth pain. This is caused due to reasons including teeth grinding, abscesses in the tooth, food lodged in between teeth, etc.
• Sharp: This is quite painful and discomforting and requires consultation with a dentist. It may be caused due to reasons such as loose filling or crown and fracture or decay of tooth.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold: This is common but can be more discomforting. It may be caused due to reasons such as wear and tear of enamel, decay or fracture of the tooth, and exposed roots.
• Severe and throbbing: Such pain is usually unbearable and serious, and should be followed by urgent dental care under the supervision of a dentist.

Summary: The nature of dental pain depends upon the cause and severity of the condition. It may vary ranging from being mild and continuous to severe and intermittent.

Dental pain is a common oral health issue, accompanied by pain either in the tooth or in surrounding structures. Following are the symptoms associated with it:

• Pain: The nature of pain may be sharp, throbbing, continuous, intermittent, acute, or chronic. Its onset is spontaneous in some cases while it may arise as a result of external pressure such as during biting or chewing.
• Inflammation: This is accompanied by swelling in the oral cavity around the tooth or surrounding structures.
• Fever: Pain is followed by the occurrence of fever in some cases.
• Bad breath: Foul smell or odor may arise as a result of an infection in the tooth.
• Pus drainage: There may be the presence of pus drainage from the infected tooth.

Summary: Dental pain is quite common nowadays related to either mild or severe symptoms. Pain, inflammation in the gums, fever, headache, bad breath, pus drainage are some basic symptoms associated with such conditions.

Dental pain is a common health problem affecting people nowadays. It may be mild to moderate or severe in nature. Important causes for dental pain may include:

• Tooth decay: This is caused due to infection in the tooth, followed by a gradual decay process.
• Abscessed tooth: Bacterial infection around the periapical tooth region is responsible for causing abscesses in the tooth, followed by pain.
• Fracture in a tooth: Any fracture or wear and tear in the tooth enamel or roots may cause pain and inflammation.
• Inappropriate filling: In case filling or restoration in the cavities of any infected tooth gets damaged, the condition may lead to throbbing or continuous pain.
• Infections in the gums: Infection in the gums due to poor maintenance of oral hygiene may be one of the reasons for tooth pain.
• Tooth-related habits: Any tooth-related habits such as grinding or clenching may lead to malocclusion of teeth, leading to pain.
• Eruption or extraction of the tooth: Extraction of tooth, especially wisdom tooth as well as tooth coming out of the gums are associated with pain and inflammation.

Summary: The main cause of dental pain is poor oral hygiene which can lead to conditions like tooth decay, infections in gums, abscessed teeth, etc. Other responsible factors may include tooth fracture, tooth-related habits like grinding or clenching, etc.

Dental pain or pain in the tooth is the condition that arises due to abnormal functioning of the nerves present in the root of the tooth. Following this, a proper diagnosis under the supervision of a dentist is important. Steps involved in the diagnosis include:

• Oral examination: This includes identifying the source as well as the cause of pain by tapping on the tooth. The presence of cavities is also checked in this step.
• Assessment of medical history: Any medical history of the patient related to sinusitis, temporomandibular joints, ear infection, etc. is asked so as to establish any correlation of such conditions with the toothache.
• Radiographic examination: X-rays are important for the radiographic analysis of the cause of the pain.

Summary: The diagnosis of dental pain is an important step, based on which treatment plan is decided. It should always be done under the supervision of a dentist.

Dental pain mainly is caused due to poor oral hygiene. Hence the condition can be prevented by eliminating such causes. Some of the important steps involved in the prevention of toothache or related issues include:

• Maintaining proper cleanliness of the oral cavity: This is achieved either by regular brushing of the teeth with a soft toothbrush or giving the tooth an optimum fluoride exposure.
• Use of floss: Flossing of teeth is important as it helps to clean the interdental area of the teeth and helps us to get rid of the unwanted, trapped food particles.
• Regular use of mouthwash: Mouthwashes ensure disinfection of the oral cavity by its antimicrobial action. They can be used after 30 minutes after having meals.
• Regular dental check-ups: We should undergo routine dental check-ups so as to identify any decayed tooth if present in the oral cavity.

Summary: The basic cause of dental pain is poor oral hygiene. Hence, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the oral cavity to prevent such conditions. Regular brushing of teeth, use of mouthwash, floss, etc. are some simple methods to maintain proper oral hygiene.

Dental pain occurs in every individual at some point in their life. It is normal in some cases and can be controlled by self-care techniques. However, it may be serious in some cases too. Some of the important things that we can do in case of dental pain include the following:

• Application of home remedies: In normal cases of tooth pain when there is a minor irritation of the nerves accompanied by transient symptoms, certain home remedies, and self-care techniques work well. Some of them include salt-water rinse, cold compress, rinse with hydrogen peroxide, application of peppermint tea bags, clove, garlic, guava leaves, wheatgrass, etc.
• Consultation with a dentist: In serious cases of dental pain when the symptoms are prolonged and intense or related to an underlying medical condition, then it is important to consult a dentist. One should not ignore such conditions, especially when accompanied by symptoms like fever, headache, pain, inflammation, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, etc.

Summary: It is important to consult a dentist when the symptoms related to dental pain are severe and prolonged. Mild to moderate symptoms can be easily controlled by self-care techniques and the application of home remedies.

The first stage of treatment of dental pain is the administration of drugs. These drugs are mostly NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin that help in bringing down the pain as well as the associated swelling.

These drugs are administered orally and its generally recommended to take it after a meal. In certain cases, such as when the pain is caused by bacterial infections or tooth decay, dentists may prescribe antibiotics too.

If the toothace is severe and caused by a cavity, the patient may have to go for a simple procedure known as filling. In this procedure, the dentist simply fills the cavity of the particular tooth or teeth with the help of dental drilling machine and a cotton swab. This procedure is virtually painless. In certain cases, patients may need to resort a more definitive treatment iin order to get rid of dental pain and root canal treatment is one of them.

This treatment can be slightly painful, which is why local anesthesia is administered before te dentist can start. In this procedure, the dentist will make an opening in the affected tooth's crown and use tiny instruments to clean the root canal and make space for a filling. After that, the dentist will fill the root canal and make sure it's sealed completely. After that is done, a crown is placed on the tooth to protect it.

Anyone with a toothache can opt for oral drugs to get them treated, and the same holds true for fillings. As for a root canal, it is necessary if the soft tissues in the root canal of the patient become infected or inflamed.

Certain drugs used to treat dental pain can cause allergy in certain people and hence, painkillers are not recommended for them. When talking of root canal, patients who are suffering hypertension, are on prescription blood thinners, have diabetes, have fever or infections and either suffer from osteporosis or automimmune diseases.

The painkillers used to treat dental pain have side effects such as stomach ache, heartburn, stomach ulcers, dizziness, headaches, high blood pressure and more. Side effects of a filling include increased tooth sensitivity to cold, hot, sweet and sour foods. Tingling sensation, pain and numbness can also arise. A root canal carries more or less the same side effects as a filling along with inflammation and/or infection.

Those go through a course of painkillers should make it a point to follow a healthy diet in order to abate the side effects. The post-treatment guidelines for a dental filling include not drinking water or eating for at least a couple of hours after the procedure and avoiding foods and beverages that can cause sensitivity. As for root canal treatment, patients need to follow strict guidelines which include taking antibiotics prescribed, maintaining proper oral hygiene, not eating or drinking anything for a few hours after the procedure, and avoiding hard foods.

Painkillers will have an immediate affect and the dental pain a patient experiences will go down in an hour, which means recovery is speedy althoug one may have to continue having painkillers for 3 to 5 days minimum to get lasting relief. Fillings may need to be changed with time although the recovery is instant, and the same holds true for a root canal.

The cost of a root canal procedure ranges between Rs 3000 and Rs 4500. NSAIDs for dental pain are quite cheap and cost around Rs 9 to Rs 20. Dental filling costs Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per tooth.

Root canal is a permanent solution. Fillings may need to be changed from time to time in order to get relief and painkillers only help in providing symptom relief.

Difficulty in eating is one of the symptoms related to dental pain. However, there are certain food items that are recommended in such conditions to ease healing and recovery. These include soft food items which will not aggravate the pain. Some of those include:

• Food items that are neither too hot nor too cold
• Oatmeal and applesauce
• Cheese and yogurt
• Potatoes in boiled and mashed form
• Custards, puddings, and gelatin
• Shakes and smoothies

Summary: Dental pain is often accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty in chewing and biting. Hence, it is important to take only preferred food items such as yogurt, shakes, smoothies, etc. which can be easily chewed and swallowed.

Not all cases of dental pain require emergency medical care as some of them might be resolved with self-care techniques and over-the-counter medicines. However, certain cases do need emergency consultation with the dentist. Symptoms associated with such cases include:

• Fractured tooth: Severe acute pain occurs when a tooth is broken or fractured as soft tissues like dentin or pulp may be exposed in such conditions.
• Toothaches without any evident cause: Certain cases with a severe and persistent toothache may be a sign of periodontitis which involves inflammation of the tooth and surrounding structures.
• Bleeding from the gums: Minor bleeding is normal from the gums but when bleeding is severe and continuous, it indicates a serious condition.
• Inflammation in the oral cavity: Inflammation in the oral cavity may be a sign of swollen or infected lymph nodes.
• Metallic taste in the mouth: This results from a damaged or loose crown and filling and it may cause infection or cavities in the particular tooth.

Summary: Normal cases of dental pain with transient or mild symptoms are treated at home by home remedies and over-the-counter medicines. But when the symptoms are severe and prolonged, consultation with a dentist is needed so as to prevent any complications.

Physical exercises are beneficial as far as dental pain is concerned. Some of the preferred forms of temporomandibular exercises for relieving pain and discomfort associated with the tooth include:

• Relaxed jaw exercises: The tongue is allowed to rest on the top of the oral cavity, behind the upper front teeth. Jaw muscles are left relaxed, allowing the teeth to come apart.
• Chin tucks: Firstly the shoulders are stretched back with the chest in an upward direction. Then the chin is allowed to be pulled in a straight backward direction forming a double chin.
• Resisted mouth opening: Thumb is placed beneath the chin. Then the mouth is opened slowly, pushing against the chin creating resistance. The position is held for a few seconds and then released.
• Resisted closing of the mouth: We have to squeeze the chin with the thumb and index finger. Then, the mouth is closed putting gentle pressure against the chin.

Summary: Dental pain is often associated with functional impairment in the temporomandibular joint. Thus, exercises to relieve pain in such conditions include TMJ-related exercises such as relaxed jaw exercises, chin tucks, etc.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are considered to be the best-preferred medicines in case of dental pain. Some of the medicines in this category include the following:

• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen

These medicines work by blocking the enzyme responsible for redness and inflammation of the gums, thus relieving such conditions.

Summary: Certain over-the-counter medicines are helpful to control and manage dental pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc. are commonly preferred.

The best alternative to all the treatment methods mentioned is a tooth extraction. However, that's reserved for severe cases when the tooth is beyond repair with the help of fillings or root canal treatment.